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Ulster County's Acting County Clerk, Taylor Bruck, has once more refused to comply with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to file a summary judgment against Dr. Margaret Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter, a New Paltz physician, faces charges in Texas for allegedly providing the abortion drug mifepristone to a Texas resident. The civil lawsuit against her, filed by Paxton, seeks up to $250,000 in damages. However, New York's telehealth shield law protects her from such out-of-state legal actions.
The standoff began in March when Paxton first sent a motion to the Ulster County Clerk’s Office. After consulting with legal experts and the New York Attorney General’s Office, Bruck rejected the request. He cited the shield law, which prohibits New York government employees from complying with out-of-state abortion-related proceedings. "The law is very clear," Bruck stated, emphasizing that it leaves no room for interpretation.
According to Reuters, New York is one of eight states with such laws, enacted to protect medical providers who prescribe abortion medication across state lines. Governor Kathy Hochul, who signed the law in June 2023, supports Bruck's decision, stating, "New York won’t be bullied."
Despite Bruck's firm stance, there are concerns that Texas may pursue legal action to challenge New York's shield law. This could potentially lead to a case in the U.S. Supreme Court, threatening similar laws across the country. As of now, Paxton’s office has not commented on the situation.