NJ governor would consider defying Supreme Court on mifepristone ban

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday said he would consider defying the Supreme Court and continue to provide mifepristone if the court rules in favor of a ban on the abortion pill. 

When asked if the state would prescribe mifepristone after such a ruling, Murphy told MSNBC: “To be determined.”

“When I say everything is on the table, Katy, I mean that. This action generally, whether its mifepristone, or whether it’s North Carolina or South Carolina, or Florida at six weeks,” he said in an interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur, also referring to other abortion restrictions on the state level. 

“This is going to cost people’s lives. It’s going to cost them health, it’s also going to cost people’s lives, women in particular sadly. That’s what’s at stake, we’ll do whatever it takes to save lives,” said Murphy, a Democrat. 

Murphy’s remarks come after the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard arguments in a case that could force mifepristone off the market nationwide, including in states where abortion is legal. 

Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug, misoprostol, accounts for about half of all abortions domestically.

The closely watched legal fight is likely to wind up at the Supreme Court, which already intervened last month to keep the drug available as the case makes its way through the court system.