NEW ORLEANS (NEWSnet/AP) — Appellate judges with a history of supporting abortion restrictions were hearing arguments Wednesday over access to a drug used in the most common method of abortion.

The closely watched case is likely to wind up at the Supreme Court, which has allowed mifepristone to stay available while the legal reviews are in progress.

At issue are the Food and Drug Administration's initial approval of mifepristone in 2000, and FDA actions making the drug more accessible in later years. The three judges at 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals won't rule immediately.

It has been almost a year after the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling that had established abortion rights. Fourteen states have since banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy and other states have adopted, or are debating, major restrictions.

The case began in November when abortion opponents filed a lawsuit in federal court in Amarillo, Texas. The ruling at that level would have revoked FDA approval of mifepristone. The Biden administration and Danco Laboratories quickly appealed.

Health care providers have said they could switch to misoprostol if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain. But misoprostol is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.

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