Legal experts were caught off guard when Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito sided unanimously with eight other justices in a case involving an abortion drug.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored the 9-0 decision, with Alito joining his fellow conservative justices.
The case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (FDA) v. FDA, involved the producer of mifepristone, a pill used for cancer treatment.
This ruling ensures continued access to mifepristone, a significant development in a country with the highest abortion rate worldwide.
In a stark contrast, a recent ruling saw six conservatives and three liberals deciding that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee abortion rights in the case of Dobbs Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Legal analyst Joyce Vance described Alito’s decision as “remarkable,” linking it to ethical concerns surrounding the Court.
Other legal analysts, including Steve Vladek and Elie Mystal, expressed surprise at Alito’s decision but acknowledge its significance.
Alito and his colleagues’ unanimous decision was seen as a surprising turn of events by legal experts.
Controversy around Alito has escalated with calls for impeachment following reports of undisclosed gifts and controversial actions, such as flying an upside-down U.S. flag at his homes.
Clarence Thomas, the most senior conservative on the Court, also supported the decision, but faced criticism for undisclosed luxury trips funded by a Republican Party billionaire.