Idaho, United States

The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday (June 26) acknowledged that it mistakenly shared online a document which is related to a pending abortion case, as reported by Bloomberg. 

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Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe accepted that a document was “inadvertently and briefly uploaded” to the court website but further stated that the ruling “has not been released.”

As per the document, the Supreme Court appeared poised to temporarily permit abortions in cases of medical emergencies in Idaho. The document was inadvertently shared on the website of the court in an astonishing breach of protocol.

In the unsigned document, three Conservatives - Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts - appeared to side with the three Liberals of the court to block the state from enforcing the ban in some of the emergency situations.

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Also Read: 'Abortion is murder,' and Republicans in Texas are open to punishing it with death penalty: Report

The court accepted that they briefly shared a document by mistake but emphasised that no opinion should be considered final till the justices announce it. 

The abortion case is seen as the most significant of the current term which is winding down before the July 4 holiday.

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In January, the Supreme Court blocked the lower court ruling and permitted Idaho to enforce its abortion law in full while accepting to hear oral arguments. 

The ban's other provisions are already in effect and the ruling will not affect them. 

What is the case about?

The case is related to whether a federal law which regulates emergency room treatment overrides the strict abortion ban in Idaho. If the appeal is dismissed by the court, it will lead to the legal question remaining unresolved.

As per the document shared by Bloomberg, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson separately wrote that the court should have decided on the bigger issue which is likely to come up in another case and is likely to have an impact on other states with abortion restrictions similar to one imposed in Idaho.

Watch: US Supreme Court to allow emergency abortion?

"Today’s decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in Idaho. It is a delay,” Jackson wrote, as per the document. “While this court dawdles and the country waits, pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions remain in a precarious position, as their doctors are kept in the dark about what the law requires," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)