[JURIST] AP is reporting that the US Supreme Court [official website] has upheld Oregon's Death with Dignity Act [PDF text], rejecting federal efforts to prevent doctors from assisting patients in taking their own lives. In 2001, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered [text] a halt to the distribution of controlled drugs used by doctors for the suicides, arguing it was a violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act [text]. The Court heard arguments [JURIST report] in Gonzales v. Oregon [Duke Law case backgrounder] in October.

10:35 AM ET – In a 6-3 decision, the Court held that the Controlled Substances Act does not allow the Attorney General to prohibit doctors from prescribing regulated drugs for use in physician-assisted suicide when state law permits the procedure. Read the Court's opinion [text], per Justice Kennedy, along with a dissent [text] from Justice Scalia, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Thomas, and a separate dissent [text] from Justice Thomas. AP has more.