The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — Federal appeals judges say a lower court was wrong when it blocked Washington state’s rules mandating the sale of “morning-after” birth control pills.
In today’s ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a federal judge in Tacoma went too far when he halted enforcement of state rules about the drug, sold as Plan B.
In 2007, state regulators said a patient’s right to purchase Plan B trumped any pharmacist’s or business’ moral objections to its possible effect on potential pregnancies.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton blocked the new regulations over worries that druggists’ religious rights could be violated.
But appeals judges said that ruling was too broad and used the wrong legal tests. They’re sending the case back for more work.
