Abortion Pills Remain Legal In MI After Judge's Ruling, Officials Say

MICHIGAN — Abortion medication remains legal in Michigan despite a Friday ruling from a Texas judge ordering the government to halt approval of the drugs used to terminate a pregnancy, officials said.

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk's decision to suspend the FDA's approval of mifepristone was met almost simultaneously with another judge's ruling ordering the FDA to not make any changes that would restrict access to the drug allowed in 17 states and D.C.

The contradictory ruling's leave the future of mifepristone up in the air, but Michigan state officials said access to the drug remains legal in the state.

"Despite a ruling today by a Texas judge attempting to force the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its decades-long approval of a safe and effective medication used in millions of medication abortions annually; abortion, including medication abortion, remains legal and accessible in Michigan," Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

In addition, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the judge showed "clear shame and cowardice" and the decision "speaks volumes about the integrity he assigned his judgment."

"This ruling, while an obvious judicial embarrassment, was cruelly timed for a moment when the government and good faith public servants would be at a disadvantage to respond in defense of the constitutional rights of all American women," Nessel said.

The ruling comes just days after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation repealing the Michigan's 1931 abortion ban law.

Mifepristone has been used widely in the U.S. since 2000 when it was first approved by the FDA. It is a two-drug regimen, used along with misoprostol to stop a pregnancy. It is also the most common form of abortion and miscarriage management.