February 21, 2025
New York does not recognize this request.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul in a letter to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, denying a request by the Louisiana proseutors to extradite a NY doctor facing charges for prescribing abortion medication to a Louisiana minor. As of this writing, Gov. Landry had not responded to this development.
Why It Matters: The future of this criminal case remains TBD. This case, and a separate civil case against the same NY doctor filed in Texas, may once again bring the issue of abortion law in America before the Supreme Court.
More Context:
“Abortion in Louisiana is almost entirely banned unless deemed necessary to save the life of the mother or prevent ‘permanent impairment’ of a life-sustaining organ.
“New York, meanwhile, is one of eight states that has enacted an abortion shield law since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that granted Americans a constitutional right to abortion.
“Those laws are meant to protect health care providers from criminal penalties if they prescribe medication used for abortions to people in states where abortion is restricted or banned. Between 6,000 and almost 10,000 people in states with bans or restrictions on abortion receive care through a shield law every month, according to data from the Society for Family Planning.
“New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has pledged to protect Carpenter, and she quickly rejected the Louisiana attorney general’s request to extradite the doctor last week.” (The Hill)
Read More: Louisiana, New York battle over abortion laws: What comes next (The Hill)
Hochul says she will not honor Louisiana’s request to extradite NY doctor for prescribing abortion meds to girl: ‘Not now. Not ever’ (New York Post)
by Jenna Lee, Founder of SmartHER News
