Ulster County rejects Texas motion against New York abortion doctor

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck rejected a Texas motion seeking a civil penalty of over $100,000 against Dr. Margaret Carpenter of New Paltz. The filing from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton targeted Carpenter for missing a court appearance after telehealth prescription of the abortion pill mifepristone to a Texan.

Bruck told Paxton that New York’s shield law stops the clerk’s office from filing judgments from out-of-state legal actions. "Since this decision is likely to result in further litigation, I must refrain from discussing specific details about the situation," Bruck said.

Governor Kathy Hochul denounced the Texas effort, saying it targets the New York doctor for prescribing medicine. “The anti-woman, anti-abortion zealots are at it again," she said. "Today, the County Clerk in Ulster County bravely stood up with a simple message: hell no."

New York has already opted against extraditing Carpenter to Louisiana, where prosecutors brought charges on similar grounds. And on March 22, Hochul announced that she signed S4587/A5285 into law to strengthen the shield law already on the books.

“I commend the Ulster County Clerk for doing what is right," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "New York's shield law was created to protect patients and providers from out-of-state anti-choice attacks, and we will not allow anyone to undermine health care providers’ ability to deliver necessary care to their patients."

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and State Senator Michelle Hinchey also backed the decision. "He is following the intent of the New York State Shield Law, which protects providers and patients from unjust legal action originating outside our state," Metzger said. "States have no business interfering in women's reproductive health decisions."

Hinchey, who represents New Paltz in the state legislature, said, "New York will not bend to the extreme injustice of hostile, grandstanding Attorneys General weaponizing the legal system to control people’s lives and bodies."