This week, a court will hear arguments in a case that threatens the countrywide availability of medication abortion. The forthcoming hearing was made public on Monday after news reports raised fears that a case with significant repercussions may proceed with little monitoring.
A organization that helped oppose Roe v. Wade has filed a lawsuit challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s clearance of the medication mifepristone in 2000. This case has been assigned to a judge in Texas who was selected by former President Donald Trump and is recognized for his or her conservative beliefs.
The verdict might affect states regardless of the legal status of abortion, as medicine is used in over half of all abortions. It might take years for the effects of a verdict against the Food and Drug Administration to manifest.
The Washington Post stated that U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk would delay placing the case on the public docket in order to limit threats and potential demonstrations. He also urged the attorneys not to disclose the plans publicly, according to the publication.
There is a presumption of openness in federal court hearings, meaning that proceedings are accessible to the public with few exceptions, and courtroom transparency is a cornerstone of the American judicial system. Delaying public notice of a hearing is extremely uncommon, as it would ordinarily be posted on the public court docket promptly.
