LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – On the evening of Good Friday, Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas delivered a verdict that would forbid the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving mifepristone, used in medicated abortion, prompting Michigan officials to respond quickly. 

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“Today, an extreme federal judge in Texas who is out-of-step with the majority of Michiganders and Americans has attempted to ban mifepristone, one of the most common abortion medications that has been approved by the FDA, prescribed, and safely used for decades,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday.

The decision came days after Gov. Whitmer signed Public Act 12 which repealed the Michigan 1931 abortion ban law.  

“Despite this ruling, I want to be clear: abortion, including medication abortion, remains safe and legal in the state of Michigan,” Gov. Whitmer continued in a statement. 

Attorney General Dana Nessel also weighed in on the court decision last week, expressing her disappointment with the decision. 

“I am deeply disappointed that Judge Kacsmaryk has decided in favor of those who would harm women by exacerbating our nation’s reproductive healthcare crisis, the stakes of which have only escalated in the aftermath of the fall of Roe,” AG Nessel said in a statement. 

She suggested that the (FDA) ought to behave consistent with Judge Thomas O. Rice of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington ruled to order the FDA to maintain the status quo and permit continued use of the drug on Friday. 

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“The FDA should – consistent with Judge Rice’s order – continue, as it has for more than 20 years, to maintain its approval of the manufacture and prescription of this medication so many women rely upon for their healthcare,” AG Nessel said in a statement. 

While the legislation passed in the Michigan House numerous representatives offered floor speeches urging a no vote to repeal the 1931 abortion ban, the bill passed 58 yes votes to 50 no votes in early March. 

Representative Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) testified on the floor reminding the house of how dangerous abortions can be.   

“I rise today to implore everyone to pause, and to look at what we’re doing,” Representative Smit said, “we are removing a law designed to protect women but what are we replacing it with? Nothing.”  

Recently, Representative Jim DeSana (R-Carleton), who also testified against the bill, criticized the public act’s passage, as there was a time that Michigan “recognized life as an objective good.” 

“It’s a dark day in Michigan, particularly for the unborn child and those of us who value the sanctity of life,” DeSana said in a statement. “Now that these bills have been finalized, the lives of unborn children are afforded almost no protection under our state laws. 

Earlier Monday, Pfizer CEO and Chairman Albert Bourla, signed an industry letter in support of the FDA’s authority to regulate drugs after Judge Kacsmaryk suspected the agency’s approval for mifepristone along with 300 other biotech and pharmaceutical company executives according to Reuters.