October Term 2023 · Docket 23-235
Can doctors sue over FDA mail-order abortion rules?
Doctors claim FDA ignored safety data. FDA says the drug is safe.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Doctors argue FDA violated the law.
FDA argues the drug is safe.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Doctors want to block mail-order abortion pills. They claim FDA ignored safety data. FDA wants to keep the drug available. It says the drug is safe and effective.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 26, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-39
What each side wants
Doctors want to block mail-order abortion pills.
FDA wants to keep the drug available.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
What each side says
Doctors claim FDA ignored safety data.
FDA claims the drug is safe and effective.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if anyone can sue the FDA.
Justice Alito asked if the public has a remedy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
Why it matters
This case defines who can sue the FDA. It shapes access to abortion pills. It tests agency decision-making power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 101, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 101, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.