Texas federal judge to hear case challenging FDA's longstanding approval of abortion pill

A federal judge in Texas will hear arguments Wednesday in a case filed by a conservative nonprofit legal group in an attempt to overturn the Food and Drug Administration's long-standing approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, will weigh in on the case brought by the Alliance for Defending Freedom. Still, virtually no precedent exists for a single judge to overrule the FDA's scientific decisions, according to The Associated Press.

The Alliance is attempting to have the court issue an injunction to compel the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone, which is used in conjunction with a second pill and is the most common U.S. abortion method. The group is arguing that the FDA did not fully review the safety risks associated with mifepristone before approving it in 2000.

More than a dozen friend-of-the-court briefs, including those from 67 members of Congress and 23 states, have been filed in support of the Alliance, which is representing several pro-life groups and doctors.

FDA attorneys argue that the pill's serious side effects are rare and subsequent studies and data show that the pill is safe.

If Kacsmaryk rules in favor of the Alliance, federal attorneys are expected to challenge the decision.