Supreme Court blocks lower court decision in case on FDA approval of abortion pill

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued a ruling on access to mifepristone, a drug widely used in medication abortions. The case was brought to the high court after a federal judge decided earlier this month that the Food and Drug Administration improperly approved the medication 23 years ago. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday blocked lower court decisions banning or limiting the FDA-approved use of the abortion pill mifepristone for the foreseeable future.

But the justices, for now, left the case in the hands of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has scheduled oral arguments in the case for May 17. However the 5th Circuit rules, the case will almost certainly end up back at the Supreme Court, with the potential for a decision in the case next term.