Skip to main content

Food and Drug Administration v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Application for stay granted on Jan. 12, 2021. Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan would deny the application.

Docket No.20A34
Op. Below4th Cir.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Aug 26, 2020
Application (20A34) for a stay, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Aug 27, 2020
Response to application (20A34) requested by The Chief Justice, due Tuesday, September 8, by noon.
Aug 28, 2020
Motion for leave to file amici brief and motion for leave to file brief in compliance with Rule 33.2 filed by Indiana, et al.
Sep 8, 2020
Response to application from respondents American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, et al. filed.
Sep 8, 2020
Motion for leave to file amici brief and motion for leave to file brief in compliance with Rule 33.2 filed by New York, et al.
Sep 8, 2020
Brief of Amici Curiae Medical Associations in Support of Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Application for Stay Pending Appeal of Medical Associations not accepted for filing. (September 08, 2020)
Sep 8, 2020
Motion for leave to file amici brief and motion for leave to file brief in compliance with Rule 33.2 filed by American Medical Association, et al.
Sep 10, 2020
Reply of applicants Food and Drug Administration, et al. filed.
Oct 8, 2020
Application (20A34) referred to the Court.
Oct 8, 2020
The Government seeks a stay of an injunction preventing the Food and Drug Administration from enforcing in-person dispensation requirements for the drug mifepristone during the pendency of the public health emergency. The Government argues that, at a minimum, the injunction is overly broad in scope, given that it applies nationwide and for an indefinite duration regardless of the improving conditions in any individual State. Without indicating this Court’s views on the merits of the District Court’s order or injunction, a more comprehensive record would aid this Court’s review. The Court will therefore hold the Government’s application in abeyance to permit the District Court to promptly consider a motion by the Government to dissolve, modify, or stay the injunction, including on the ground that relevant circumstances have changed. See Febre v. United States, 396 U. S. 1225, 1225–1226 (1969) (Harlan, J., in chambers); see also Parr v. United States, 351 U. S. 513, 520 (1956). The District Court should rule within 40 days of receiving the Government’s submission. JUSTICE ALITO, with whom JUSTICE THOMAS joins, dissenting. (Detached Opinion).
Dec 15, 2020
Supplemental brief of applicants Food and Drug Administration, et al. filed.
Dec 16, 2020
Response to supplemental brief requested by The Chief Justice, due Tuesday, December 22, by 3 p.m.
Dec 22, 2020
Supplemental brief of respondents American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, et al. filed.
Jan 12, 2021
Application (20A34) granted by the Court. The application for stay presented to THE CHIEF JUSTICE and by him referred to the Court is granted, and the district court’s July 13, 2020 order granting a preliminary injunction is stayed pending disposition of the appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari, if such writ is timely sought. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court. JUSTICE BREYER would deny the application. CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS, concurring in the grant of application for stay. (Detached Opinion). JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR, with whom JUSTICE KAGAN joins, dissenting from grant of application for stay. (Detached Opinion).

Welcome to SCOTUSblog

Tell us a bit about yourself so we can tailor what you see. You can update these any time in your account.