Illinois officials outraged at competing rulings putting abortion pill in limbo

CHICAGO (WLS) — Entry to probably the most generally used technique of abortion within the U.S. plunged into uncertainty Friday following conflicting courtroom rulings over the legality of the abortion remedy mifepristone that has been extensively out there for greater than 20 years.

For now, the drug the Meals and Drug Administration accepted in 2000 appeared to stay no less than instantly out there in wake of two separate rulings that had been issued in fast succession by federal judges in Texas and Washington.

READ MORE: Texas choose reverses FDA approval of abortion drug after 23 years

U.S. District Choose Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ordered a maintain on federal approval of mifepristone in a choice that overruled a long time of scientific approval. However that call got here at almost identical time that U.S. District Choose Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, basically ordered the alternative and directed U.S. authorities to not make any modifications that may prohibit entry to the drug in no less than 17 states the place Democrats sued in an effort to guard availability.

Governor JB Pritzker blasted the Texas ruling, calling it a “harmful determination.”

In an announcement launched Friday night time he stated partially, “Let me be clear: due to the Washington determination, nothing has modified in Illinois… Regardless of these assaults, reproductive rights are enshrined in Illinois regulation and can keep that means.”

“This ruling is a transparent and concerted effort by anti-abortion, far-right activists and politicians to dismantle sexual and reproductive well being care nationwide. We won’t allow them to win,” the assertion continued.

The ACLU of Illinois additionally responded with outrage.

“It’s not a choice that’s grounded in any form of public well being concern. It includes a medicine that has been safely used for over twenty years,” stated Ameri Klafeta, ACLU of Illinois. “It is rather protected. It’s safer than Tylenol.”

ABC7 did attain out to the anti-abortion advocate group Illinois Proper to Life for a remark, and have but to listen to again.

A protest in opposition to the Texas choose’s ruling is deliberate for Saturday at Federal Plaza.

The Related Press contributed to this report.