Mayor Bass, L.A. leaders speak out on mifepristone rulings

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other L.A. leaders spoke Monday morning at a news conference organized by Planned Parenthood following Friday's ruling to rescind the FDA's approval of mifepristone.

Competing rulings by two federal judges over the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone were issued last week.

A federal judge in Amarillo, Texas on Friday put on hold federal approval of mifepristone, one of the most commonly used medications to end pregnancies.

Another federal judge in Spokane, Washington ruled differently in a separate case and ordered the federal government not to restrict the drug's availability.

In a 67-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas said the FDA's two-decade-old approval violated a federal rule that allows for accelerated approval for certain drugs and, along with subsequent actions by the agency, was unlawful. He put his decision on hold for seven days to allow for the Biden administration to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

At about the same time in Spokane, Washington, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice directed federal officials not to hinder access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued to keep the drug's availability intact.

The issue will likely be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court, which last year repealed Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that had established a constitutional right to abortions.

The Biden administration filed its notice of appeal late Friday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke at an 8 a.m. meeting Monday with other Los Angeles leaders at a news conference organized by Planned Parenthood following Friday's ruling to rescind the FDA's approval of mifepristone, at 400 West 30th Street in University Park.

"We want to make sure that in Los Angeles that everyone knows that they have the right to healthcare in every form," said Mayor Bass at the Planned Parenthood event.

"We are so fortunate that we live in a state like California and a city like Los Angeles, where we do not have to worry most immediately about these issues," said Bass.

"This Texas decision is a disgrace and has no immediate impact on abortion and reproductive health services here in Los Angeles County," said L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. 

"We will not go back," said L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. "The courts can try and steer us in a different direction, but we know what is best for women, for pregnant people, for everyone who seeks healthcare, we need to listen to their doctors."

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón and Sheriff Robert Luna have released statements saying that even if laws change, they have no intention of arresting or prosecuting anyone who seeks an abortion.