Louisiana’s Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill is intensifying efforts to prevent abortion pills from entering states that prohibit them. She has initiated two lawsuits, targeting those distributing the pills and also challenging protective laws of blue states. These laws, she argues, shield abortion-pill providers from prosecution.
Murrill, along with Attorney Generals from Alabama and Arkansas, filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against New York, California, and Massachusetts. They claim these states’ shield laws hinder cooperation with investigations related to abortion-pill providers. A separate lawsuit was filed in Louisiana against over 30 individuals and organizations allegedly involved in advertising, prescribing, or distributing abortion pills into states with bans.
“This is illegal drug dealing,” Murrill stated. “We will enforce our state laws.” The lawsuits mark another chapter in the ongoing dispute over abortion, particularly after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision allowed states to set their own abortion policies.
A container of Mifepristone, used in medical abortions, at Alamo Women’s Clinic, Carbondale, Ill., April 20, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
The Supreme Court lawsuit challenges the legal protections in blue states that have thwarted previous efforts by Louisiana to prosecute out-of-state doctors. Murrill criticized these comprehensive shield laws in California and New York that prevent cooperation with other states’ legal judgments related to abortion activities.
Louisiana has charged New York’s Dr. Margaret Carpenter and California’s Dr. Remy Coeytaux, accusing them of prescribing abortion drugs sent to Louisiana. However, the Democratic governors of these states have refused extradition. New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would not comply with extradition requests, while California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly refused regarding Dr. Coeytaux.
Abortion Pill Controversy
Murrill and her team aim to dismantle blue state laws protecting abortion-pill providers using all available legal avenues. The second lawsuit focuses on what Murrill calls the “pill pipeline.” The 100-page complaint alleges providers use online questionnaires before mailing out pills to states where such distribution is illegal. It also suggests some organizations knowingly violated state laws, believing shield laws would protect them.
Investigators conducted controlled purchases and found pills packaged in small bags, often in quantities exceeding standard prescriptions. Murrill stressed the absence of healthcare providers in the process, noting everything occurs online.
She also noted incidents where individuals other than pregnant women obtained the drugs, citing cases where women were coerced into taking abortion medication. In one Louisiana case, a father allegedly forced his teenage daughter to take abortion pills without her knowledge, mixing the medication in a smoothie.
Ongoing Legal Actions
Murrill is seeking greater assistance from federal authorities, specifically urging the FDA to act. Louisiana has also contested federal rules removing the requirement for in-person dispensing of mifepristone. Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed strong support for the lawsuits, criticizing blue states for obstructing justice and urging federal intervention.
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