Louisiana Files Lawsuit Against FDA to Halt Mailing of Abortion Medication

On October 9, 2025, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse rules allowing the mailing of abortion medication without in-person doctor visits. The suit, filed in Lafayette’s federal court, targets 2023 FDA changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The complaint claims these rules enable “hundreds of unlawful abortions” monthly in Louisiana, where abortion is banned. Plaintiff Rosalie Markezich alleges coercion into taking mifepristone obtained from a California doctor. This follows Murrill’s arrest warrants for out-of-state physicians and support for classifying mifepristone as a controlled substance.

The case echoes a 2024 Supreme Court challenge dismissed on standing grounds. Murrill and other Republican attorneys general seek to counter “shield” laws protecting providers. Critics note the drugs’ other medical uses, like treating postpartum hemorrhages, and report access difficulties under new state regulations.