New York Blocks Texas Judgment Against Doctor in Abortion Pill Case

A New York county clerk invoked the state's shield law to reject Texas' attempt to enforce a $113,000 judgment against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, escalating an unprecedented legal battle over abortion access across state lines.

Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck refused to enforce a Texas court judgment against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, citing New York's 2023 shield law protecting abortion providers.
The Texas judgment fined Carpenter $113,000 for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine, in violation of Texas' abortion ban.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James reaffirmed their support for the shield law, emphasizing its role in safeguarding reproductive healthcare providers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to challenge the shield law, potentially escalating the legal conflict to federal courts and testing the limits of state sovereignty.
The case marks the first legal test of New York's shield law and could set a significant precedent for interstate disputes over abortion laws post-Roe v. Wade.