Today, the Supreme Court issued its decision in the consolidated cases Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, sending them back to the lower courts without a ruling on the merits but reinstating an injunction requiring Idaho to permit abortions in the case of major health crises. This decision ensures that, for now, women in Idaho can access essential emergency abortion care when their lives or health are at risk, affirming that medical professionals can provide life-saving treatments without fear of criminal penalties or losing their medical licenses.

However, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted in her partial concurrence, “Today’s decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in Idaho. It is delay. While this court dawdles and the country waits, pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions remain in a precarious position, as their doctors are kept in the dark about what the law requires.”  

Statement from Sanctuary CEO Hon. Judy Kluger on the Supreme Court Ruling in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States:

“Today, the Supreme Court squandered an opportunity to stand against state-sponsored gender-based violence. While the decision allows pregnant women in Idaho to receive emergency abortion care for the time being, it also denies patients in Texas and around the country access to the same life-saving treatment.

Access to emergency medical services is particularly crucial for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, who often need urgent care during pregnancy. Sanctuary for Families is proud to have submitted an amicus brief demonstrating how abortion bans like Idaho’s disproportionately harm survivors. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for comprehensive healthcare rights and protecting against all forms of gender-based violence.”

###

Media inquiries: press@sffny.org

Read our amicus brief on the impact that restrictive abortion laws have on survivors of gender-based violence.