Supreme Court Orders Oklahoma to Review RU-486 Restrictions

Seeks clarification of abortion pill regulations

The Supreme Court told the high court of Oklahoma Thursday to clarify a new state law restricting the use of the RU-486 abortion pill, setting the stage for a a possible future ruling on how far states can go in regulating the practice of abortion.

Legislators in several states, including Oklahoma, have passed laws to strictly regulate the practice of abortion. Among them are measures that require all women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound test. Oklahoma also adopted a law restricting the use of RU-486.

But the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked these laws from taking effect, saying they conflicted with a 1992 Supreme Court decision on abortion.