New York County Clerk Refuses to File Fine Against Abortion Provider

The Ulster County Office Building in Kingston, N.Y., in October 2023. Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

An Ulster County clerk in New York refused to file a judgment exceeding $100,000 from Texas against a doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills, citing the state’s Shield Law to refuse the filing and future filings.

“In accordance with the New York State Shield Law, I have refused this filing and will refuse any similar filings that may come to our office,” acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck said in a prepared statement, adding that he cannot say more as this “decision is likely to result in further litigation.”

Bruck declined to file the judgment against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who practices north of New York City.

The issue first started when a Texas judge ordered Carpenter to pay $113,000, including attorney and filing fees, for allegedly violating Texas law by prescribing abortion medication via telemedicine. The Texas attorney general’s office subsequently requested a New York court to enforce the default civil judgment.

In a post on X, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he was “outraged” by the refusal and promised to push back.

“New York is shredding the Constitution to hide lawbreakers from justice, and it must end. I will not stop my efforts to enforce Texas’s pro-life laws that protect our unborn children and mothers,” Paxton said.

This incident follows New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s invocation of the state’s shield law in February when she rejected Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s request to extradite Carpenter, who faced charges in Louisiana for prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor.

In a statement Thursday, Hochul commended Bruck’s decision.

“New York is grateful for his courage and common sense,” she stated. “This is New York. We’ll never back down from fighting for these fundamental rights.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James also supported Bruck’s action.

“I applaud the Ulster County Clerk for doing what’s right, and my office will always defend our medical professionals and the people they serve,” she stated in a Facebook post.

Bruck, who became acting county clerk following a resignation last year and has received endorsement from county Democrats for election to the position, serves an administrative role in court filings.

Carpenter, who serves as co-medical director and founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, did not attend a hearing related to the case in Texas. Attempts by NTD, sister media of The Epoch Times, to reach Carpenter were not returned.

New York is among eight states with telemedicine shield laws.

In a separate development in Texas, a Waller County judge issued a temporary injunction preventing the reopening of Houston-area clinics operated by a midwife accused of performing illegal abortions.

Maria Margarita Rojas faces charges from Paxton’s office for providing an illegal abortion and practicing medicine without a license, the Texas Attor­ney Gen­er­al’s Office announced March 27.

“Today’s win means these fake clinics will remain closed and be prevented from harming anyone else while the case continues,” Paxton said in a statement.

Paxton’s office had filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently close three clinics northwest of Houston that authorities alleged performed illegal abortion procedures under Rojas. Two other individuals who allegedly worked at the clinics were also arrested, according to the statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News