New York Attorney General Letitia James Intervenes in Texas Abortion Lawsuit

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday that she is stepping into a legal dispute involving a New York doctor accused of prescribing abortion medication through telehealth to a patient in Texas.

"I am stepping in to defend the integrity of our laws and our courts against this blatant overreach," James said in her statement.

She continued, "Texas has no authority in New York, and no power to impose its cruel abortion ban here. Our shield law exists to protect New Yorkers from out-of-state extremists, and New York will always stand strong as a safe haven for health care and freedom of choice. I will fight every last attempt to roll back our rights and turn back the clock on reproductive freedom."

The case stems from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit last month after a New York county clerk declined to file a judgment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars against Dr. Margaret Carpenter. Carpenter, accused of sending abortion pills to a woman in Collin County, Texas, co-founded the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, an organization supporting providers in states with shield protections.

Paxton, in remarks to The Texas Tribune, denounced James and labeled her "a lawless abortionist" and asserting that he will prevail in court.

Shield laws, such as New York’s, prevent doctors and medical professionals from being targeted by states with abortion bans, even if services are provided remotely.

New York adopted its shield law in 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

New York Attorney General Letitia James Intervenes in Texas Abortion Lawsuit