Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas have filed a U.S. Supreme Court lawsuit challenging New York's abortion shield law, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. The filing drew separate statements Wednesday from James and Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said the state would defend the law.
The challenge concerns protections New York has adopted for reproductive health care provided legally in the state. James said the three states are seeking to strike down those protections and pursue New York providers under their own abortion restrictions. Her characterization is the state's position in a newly filed case, not a court finding.
“I will fight with everything in my power to defend our shield law and protect every provider and patient who depends on it,” James said in a statement.
Hochul, in a separate statement, said New York would continue to protect people seeking or providing reproductive care. She described the state's shield laws as a defense against efforts by other states to reach across state lines.
The two New York statements did not provide the full court filing, a docket number, a briefing schedule or a response from the three plaintiff states. They also did not report any ruling. The legal questions and the states' competing arguments remain for the court to consider.
New York's current protections remain in place unless a court orders otherwise. The filing itself does not establish that any provider violated the law or change access to care. The case's next steps will depend on Supreme Court action.
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