New York County Clerk Rejects Texas’s Effort To Fine Doctor In Abortion Pill Case

A New York region clerk again rejected an effort by Texas to good a New York-based expert accused of shipping abortion pills crossed authorities lines, successful a lawsuit that could tee up a US ultimate tribunal showdown betwixt states that protect abortion entree and those that prohibition it.

On Monday, acting Ulster region clerk Taylor Bruck rejected a tribunal filing by Texas lawyer wide Ken Paxton, which sought to cod a $113,000 punishment against Dr Margaret Carpenter. Paxton had sued Carpenter successful December 2024 complete allegations she shipped abortion pills to a Texas female successful defiance of nan state’s prohibition connected virtually each abortions. When Carpenter didn’t show up to a tribunal proceeding earlier this year, a judge automatically ruled against her and ordered her to salary nan good arsenic good arsenic extremity mailing pills to Texas.

However, New York is 1 of a fistful of bluish states that has enacted a “shield law”, which blocks authorities officials from extraditing abortion providers to different states aliases complying pinch out-of-state tribunal orders. In his first refusal to levy nan fine, issued successful March, Bruck cited nan shield law.

“The rejection stands. Resubmitting nan aforesaid materials does not change nan outcome,” Bruck said successful his consequence to Paxton connected Monday. “While I’m not wholly judge really things activity successful Texas, present successful New York, a rejection intends nan matter is closed.”

As a signoff, Bruck added New York state’s motto: “Excelsior.” The connection intends “ever upward” successful Latin.

Paxton’s agency did not instantly respond to a petition for comment. After nan first rejection, Paxton said successful a connection that he was “outraged”.

“New York is shredding nan constitution to hide lawbreakers from justice, and it must end,” he continued. “I will not extremity my efforts to enforce Texas’s pro-life laws that protect our unborn children and mothers.”

Shield laws for illustration New York’s, which sprang up successful nan years since nan US ultimate tribunal overturned Roe v Wade, person ne'er been tested successful court. However, anti-abortion activists are trying to alteration that, arsenic they person grown progressively disappointment by nan accessibility of abortion done out-of-state travel and nan readiness of abortions pills done telehealth.

Despite nan activity of state-level abortion bans unleashed by nan autumn of Roe, nan number of abortions performed successful nan US is still connected nan rise, successful ample portion acknowledgment to providers’ expertise to facilitate nan process done shield laws. In December 2024, shield rule providers facilitated almost 14,000 abortions successful states that prohibition almost each abortions aliases that restrict telehealth abortions, according to #WeCount, a investigation task by nan Society of Family Planning.

Experts wide expect that nan Texas case, aliases different akin lawsuit involving shield laws, will yet beryllium decided by nan ultimate court.