The case could have far-reaching consequences for abortion access across the United States

The fate of mifepristone, an abortion pill now in the spotlight as anti-abortion activists seek to ban the medication, was argued before a federal appeals court in New Orleans.

The Biden administration is seeking to defend mifepristone in front of the panel of three judges, all of whom are staunchly conservative, with a history of opposing abortion rights.

They’ll decide whether the widely used abortion drug should remain available, after last month’s unprecedented ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas suspending mifepristone’s FDA approval – despite numerous medical studies concluding the drug is safe and effective.

That ruling was put on hold following an emergency order from the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to ultimately hear an appeal no matter what the three-judge panel decides.

The case could have far-reaching consequences for abortion access across the United States, where abortion bans and restrictions enacted by Republican-led states have multiplied since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.

This week, Republican lawmakers in North Carolina overrode a veto by the state’s Democratic governor to enact a law that cuts the window for most abortions from 20 to 12 weeks.

The law bans elective abortions after the first trimester, except in cases of rape, incest, life-limiting fetal anomalies and medical emergencies.

The White House said the law would “harm patients and threaten doctors for providing essential care,” and repeated its call for Congress to enshrine abortion access rights into law nationwide.

Democratic opponents of the North Carolina law called it “devastatingly cruel,” and said it would force women into seeking illegal abortions.