RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The U.S. Supreme Court is now weighing a major decision regarding access to the abortion pill. While it’s difficult to read how the justices will side, it’s also difficult to know how that decision will impact North Carolina.
A group of anti-abortion doctors argued to the U.S. Supreme Court the FDA was wrong in expanding the window women can take Mifepristone, a medical abortion pill, and allowing a prescription without in-person doctor visits.
During oral arguments this week, both the court’s conservative and liberal justices seemed skeptical of the anti-abortion group’s argument.
“I’ve argued in the United States Supreme Court multiple times, and I don’t think you can make predictions based on questioning in oral argument,” North Carolina Associate Justice Allison Riggs told CBS 17.
Justice Riggs said people paying attention to this decision should be careful to not read too much into the justices’ questions and comments.
“The story does not end at the doors of the U.S. Supreme Court building. North Carolinians have a state constitution and state laws and the North Carolina Supreme Court gets to decide what those mean,” Riggs said.
The impact of SCOTUS’ decision is not so clear cut for the state. Senate Bill 20, passed by state lawmakers last year, is more restrictive than what the FDA allows. The law requires patients to see a doctor twice in person in order to be prescribed Mifepristone.
More from FOX8
North Carolina News
“I think we need to see what [the justices] decide. We need to see how broad or narrow that is and then we need to look to our own constitution here in North Carolina and our own laws and see what options women will have from there,” Riggs said.
Justice Riggs said she would respect the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision which is expected in June. She says voters can make their voices heard at the polls if they don’t agree with that ruling.
“What voters should be asking themselves in the presidential race, in the gubernatorial race, what are the candidates communicating?” said Riggs.