New York Governor Kathy Hochul has refused Louisiana's request to extradite a New York doctor indicted for prescribing and sending an abortion pill to a Louisiana resident. The interstate clash highlights the ongoing legal battles over abortion access in the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturning.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed the extradition motion after a grand jury indicted Dr. Margaret Carpenter last month. Murrill argues that Carpenter violated Louisiana law by providing the abortion medication, while Hochul maintains that New York will shield the doctor under its own laws protecting abortion access.
Hochul has declared certain out-of-state warrants unenforceable in New York, instructing law enforcement not to cooperate with the extradition effort. She recently signed legislation allowing doctors to omit their names from abortion pill prescriptions, further solidifying New York's stance on protecting abortion providers. Hochul has vowed never to comply with Louisiana's request, emphasizing her commitment to safeguarding reproductive rights in New York.
Murrill contends that Hochul lacks the authority to disregard interstate extradition agreements and that concealing a doctor's identity on a prescription will not shield them from prosecution if they violate Louisiana law. She warned that Carpenter could face arrest in other states willing to cooperate with the warrant.
Hochul remains steadfast in her commitment to protecting reproductive access in New York, framing the situation as a battle against "anti-abortion politicians." She highlighted New York's proactive measures to protect providers and patients in the post-Roe landscape.
This case marks the first known instance of a doctor being criminally indicted for prescribing abortion medication across state lines. The contrasting abortion laws in Louisiana and New York underscore the deep divisions on this issue across the United States. While Louisiana outlawed abortion after Roe's reversal, New York has constitutionally protected abortion access.
Hochul reiterated her commitment to upholding New York law and protecting its doctors, stating she will not comply with Louisiana's extradition request "now, not ever."
