US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has denied a request to block part of the federal health care law that requires employee health-care plans to provide insurance coverage for the morning-after pill and similar emergency contraception pills.

Hobby Lobby Stores and a sister company, Mardel, sued the government, claiming the mandate violates the religious beliefs of its owners.

In an opinion, Ms Sotomayor said the shops fail to satisfy the demanding legal standard for blocking the requirement on an emergency basis.

She said the companies may continue their challenge to the regulations in the lower courts.

Company officials say they must decide whether to violate their faith or face a daily 1.3 million US dollars fine beginning on January 1 if they ignore the law.