Texas court files lawsuit over abortion pills

AMARILLO, Texas – Protesters gathered outside a federal courthouse in Amarillo on Wednesday night, eagerly awaiting the decision of Trump-appointed Judge Matthew Kaczmarik on the future of the abortion pill, mifepristone, in a case brought by Texas life advocacy groups.

“Our corrupt administration, our corrupt Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has turned every woman’s bathroom into an abortion facility,” abortion advocate Abby Johnson said at the Texas Capitol on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges that the FDA misapproved the drug 23 years ago without proper safety testing. The plaintiffs are seeking to have that authorization revoked, which would temporarily block the sale of the drug nationwide. It is usually used as part of a two-pill regimen to induce an abortion.

“We need to hold these people who are selling these dangerous drugs accountable,” Johnson said.

But proponents of the choice argue that the data show the drug is safe and say it’s a thinly veiled abuse by right-wing groups.

“Using one court and one judge to determine what will be the outcome of access to abortion services in states across the country,” said former Democratic nominee for Texas Governor Wendy Davis.

Speaking at a press conference late Wednesday night, Davis called the case a “wake-up call.”

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“This case shows that Texas, even after Roe v. Wade was dropped, abortion has been banned in the state three times. It remains the epicenter of ongoing attacks on our reproductive health and rights,” Davis said. “I think we can expect the worst. And I think we should be ready for that.”

Despite Kaczmarik’s conservative reputation, Dr. Eddie Carder, a professor of constitutional law at Prairie View A&M University, says based on Wednesday’s hearing, the judge’s decision could be some sort of compromise.

“I think this is a safe conclusion based on the questions the judge asked, the questions the judge put on the parties and the information he gathered from both points of view. sort of a mediating position,” Carder said.

Regardless of the decision, Carder says appeals are likely and the case could end up in the US Supreme Court. This case will play out alongside another case in Galveston where a man claims three women helped his ex-wife get an abortion pill in violation of the Texas abortion ban.

“I’m convinced that this case, combined with this case, will have what we might call a ‘cumulative effect’ on the state of Texas’ position on abortion, and perhaps even nationally on the status of abortion. ‘ Carder said.

Even before a decision is made, this case and others like it are already having an impact—Walgreens recently announced that it was removing abortion pills from shelves in states where they have been sued.