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Judge Allows Abortion Pill by Mail to Continue for Now
Louisiana's effort to block mifepristone prescriptions via telehealth is temporarily denied, but the judge warns the pause may not last.
Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:36pm
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A federal judge in Louisiana has refused to block the FDA's rules allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be prescribed and dispensed by mail nationwide, at least for now. The judge said he would follow an ongoing FDA safety review of the drug and could potentially side with the state later if the agency fails to complete its investigation within a reasonable timeframe.
Why it matters
This ruling is a setback for Louisiana's attempt to restrict access to abortion pills in the state, where abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy. The judge's decision highlights the ongoing legal battles over medication abortion access across the country following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The details
U.S. District Judge David Joseph denied a request from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill to pause the FDA's 2023 regulations that allow mifepristone to be dispensed by mail. While the judge said the plaintiffs are 'likely to succeed on the merits,' he granted the government's request to put the case on hold for now, warning that the pause would not be indefinite. The judge said he would follow the FDA's ongoing safety review of the drug and could potentially side with Louisiana later if the agency fails to complete its investigation within a reasonable timeframe.
- On April 8, 2026, the federal judge issued his ruling.
- The judge ordered the FDA to update him on the status of its investigation within six months.
The players
Liz Murrill
The Louisiana Attorney General who requested the pause on the FDA's rules allowing mifepristone to be dispensed by mail.
David Joseph
The U.S. District Judge in Lafayette, Louisiana who denied the state's request to block the FDA's rules on mailing abortion pills.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
An advocacy group that stressed the ruling is not a final decision, as mifepristone and abortion access remain under attack.
What they’re saying
“Should the agency fail to complete its review and make any necessary revisions' to the rules 'within a reasonable time frame, the Court's analysis – and the weight accorded to these factors – will inevitably change.”
— David Joseph, U.S. District Judge
“From the courts to the Trump administration to state legislatures across the country, mifepristone and abortion access are very much still under attack.”
— Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President and CEO
What’s next
The judge ordered the FDA to update him on the status of its investigation into the safety of mifepristone within six months. If the agency fails to complete its review and make any necessary revisions to the rules within a reasonable timeframe, the judge warned that his analysis and the weight accorded to the factors could change, potentially leading him to side with Louisiana later.
The takeaway
This ruling is a temporary victory for abortion rights advocates, but the ongoing legal battles over medication abortion access highlight the continued efforts by conservative states to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, even as more women in states with bans are turning to telehealth to obtain the medication.
