Madison Reporter

MADISON — The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided Thursday that a small group of anti-abortion activists did not have standing to sue to limit or end access to mifepristone, a medication commonly used for abortion and miscarriage treatment. The plaintiffs were found to lack standing because they suffered no harm. However, the Court's decision leaves open the possibility for future substantive challenges to the FDA’s authority and access to abortion.

In response, Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) issued a statement: "This decision is a fake-out. The ultra-MAGA US Supreme Court, which was stacked by convicted felon Donald Trump to overturn Roe v. Wade, knows Republicans will lose the 2024 elections if voters know their plans to curtail abortion access nationwide."

Roys further commented on the impact of previous decisions: "Their shameful decision in Dobbs has powered GOP losses in elections in every part of the country, and this politicized Court majority didn’t want to risk another electoral drubbing for Team MAGA based on a weak case. They used a procedural argument to avoid restricting abortion access now, but court-watchers expect them to affirm future challenges to abortion access in the coming terms."

Addressing broader concerns, Roys added: "We cannot forget the women and families who have suffered death and grievous harm because of Trump’s Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Every pregnancy has become a potential death sentence because of their decision, and contraception, IVF, and LGBTQ rights are in jeopardy."

She also highlighted ongoing legal uncertainties: "Since Trump’s hand-picked Justices overturned Roe, Wisconsinites have been living with legal uncertainty regarding access to abortion, contraception, IVF, and other routine and necessary healthcare."

Roys concluded by outlining potential future threats: "Trump and his cronies have outlined their plan to enact a nationwide backdoor abortion ban if he becomes President without any action from Congress by pulling back the decades-old approval of mifepristone, weaponizing the US Department of Justice against abortion providers, and reviving the 150-year old long defunct Comstock Act."

She warned about strategic judicial maneuvers: "Trump’s MAGA Justices are playing the long game – making it easier for GOP politicians to win election in 2024 while inviting future court cases to halt abortion access nationwide. We cannot trust the Court or conservative politicians to protect our freedoms – they have shown they are eager to do so.”

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