New York:
A government appeal in the legal fight over allowing girls of any age to buy emergency contraception without prescriptions has been officially put on hold.
Federal prosecutors said in a letter to a New York City appeals court that both sides have agreed to stop litigating while they await a ruling from a lower-court judge.
The Department of Justice notified US District Judge Edward Korman on Monday it had decided to reverse course and comply with his order to allow sales of the morning-after pills without age or other restrictions. It said it would withdraw the appeal of the order if the judge agrees with its plan to fast-track Food and Drug Administration approval.
It's unclear when and how the judge will address the issue. A woman answering the phone in his chambers declined to comment.