Acting County Clerk Taylor Bruck Bucks Texas—Again
 Ulster Clerk Rejects Second Attempt by AG Paxton to File Judgment Against Local Doctor in Shield Law Case

Kingston, NY — Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck has, once again, rejected an attempted court filing by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is seeking to impose a summary judgment against a local doctor charged in Texas for providing mifepristone to a Texas resident via telehealth.

The letter, received on July 9, sought to compel the Clerk to reconsider his decision and established an arbitrary deadline of July 16 for him to do so. In March, Bruck formally rejected Paxton’s filings under New York’s Shield Law—a first-of-its-kind action by a New York Clerk. In his latest response, Bruck reiterated that position clearly:

“The rejection stands. Resubmitting the same materials does not alter the outcome.”

He added pointedly, “While I’m not entirely sure how things work in Texas, here in New York, a rejection means the matter is closed.” He signed the letter with a one-word reminder of New York’s values: “Excelsior.”

Once again, Bruck’s response is grounded in New York state law -- a law designed to protect New York health care providers from out-of-state prosecutions and judgments that are designed to punish or inhibit them from lawfully providing their services.

In March, Bruck became the first Clerk in New York State to invoke the Shield Law, declining to docket a judgment seeking over $100,000 in civil penalties against the Ulster County resident. His action earned praise from Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and local and state officials across New York.

For more information on the Ulster County Clerk’s Office, visit our website.