Federal judges grill Biden administration on abortion pill

NEW ORLEANS — Three federal judges seemed poised to rule against the Biden administration in its efforts to preserve access to the abortion drug mifepristone.

During an occasionally combative, two-hour hearing Wednesday before a panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the judges — all Republican appointees — grilled attorneys from the Justice Departments and Danco Laboratories, the pill’s manufacturer, who are battling to keep the drug available in the U.S.

Judge James Ho began sparring with Justice Department attorney Sarah Harrington just seconds into her argument, challenging her for describing the current legal dispute over the abortion pill as the first of its kind.