Multistate lawsuit asks Supreme Court to hear challenge to abortion ‘shield laws’

Attorneys general from Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas filed a lawsuit on September 30 asking the Supreme Court to review abortion shield laws in New York, California, and Massachusetts. The Republican-led states argue these laws, passed by Democratic-led states, prevent the prosecution of abortion providers in states that have bans or restrictions on the procedure.

The lawsuit claims these shield laws enable providers to bypass state restrictions by protecting those who mail abortion-inducing drugs from states where the procedure is legal to states where it is restricted. The filing also states these laws frequently allow for the nearly anonymous mailing of abortion drugs.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that Louisiana will not allow other states or providers to threaten the state's sovereignty or violate its laws. New York Attorney General Letitia James responded by saying the lawsuit seeks to allow the other states to impose their abortion bans on New York and punish doctors for providing legal healthcare.