A county clerk in New York has once again declined to file a civil judgment from Texas against a doctor involved in the prescription of abortion pills. This decision highlights ongoing tensions around abortion laws across states.
New York is one of eight states that have enacted shield laws. These laws are designed to protect healthcare providers from legal actions originating in other states that have stricter abortion regulations. Critics of these laws argue that they undermine the constitutional obligation for states to honor the legal decisions of one another.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is pushing for New York courts to enforce a ruling from Texas against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who is accused of prescribing abortion medication through telemedicine. In March, Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck rejected the initial request to file this judgment, citing New York’s protective law for abortion providers. Recently, Texas officials made a renewed demand, claiming that Bruck had a duty under New York civil law to comply.
However, Bruck reiterated her stance, stating that in New York, a rejection signifies that the matter is settled. She emphasized in her correspondence with Texas officials that practices in New York differ from those in Texas.
This case is one of two involving Dr. Carpenter that may test the limits of these shield laws. Earlier this year, New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul also invoked the shield law to refuse a request to extradite Carpenter to Louisiana. There, she faces charges related to prescribing abortion pills to a minor.
Governor Hochul has characterized Paxton’s actions as attempts to control private decisions regarding women’s health across the country. She firmly stated, “New York won’t be bullied, and I will not back down from this fight.”
