Supreme Court Conservatives Promised That Repealing <em>Roe</em> Would Solve a Major Problem. They’ve Made It Infinitely Worse.
The Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health overturned Roe v. Wade, returning abortion regulation to the states, but instead of resolving the national debate, it has led to widespread legal chaos and fragmented access. Recent rulings, such as the 5th Circuit’s ban on telemedicine use of mifepristone—later reversed by the Supreme Court—have further destabilized abortion access and FDA authority. Rather than allowing democratic state-level resolution, anti-abortion forces are pursuing nationwide restrictions and limiting ballot initiatives that favor abortion rights.
- ▪The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals banned mifepristone use in telemedicine nationwide, but the Supreme Court temporarily reversed the decision.
- ▪The Dobbs decision in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and enabling state-level bans.
- ▪Abortion rights ballot initiatives have succeeded in multiple states, prompting some Republican-led states to restrict ballot initiative processes.
- ▪Instead of resolving abortion policy, the post-Roe landscape has created legal confusion, uneven access, and risks to reproductive health care across state lines.
- ▪The FDA's authority over medication abortion is being challenged in court, contributing to nationwide uncertainty about abortion access.
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Politics Abortion Access Is in Chaos. Blame the Supreme Court. The court’s conservatives promised that repealing Roe would bring stability. It has done the opposite. By Jill Filipovic May 05, 20261:48 PM Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images Copy Link Share Share Comment Copy Link Share Share Comment Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On Friday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state of Louisiana in its lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration and barred the use of mifepristone in telemedicine nationwide, throwing the country’s abortion provision and abortion laws—not to mention the authority of the FDA to regulate food and drugs—into chaos.
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