Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck has been named in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for upholding New York State’s landmark Shield Law.
The suit stems from Bruck’s refusal to docket a summary judgment against a local doctor accused in Texas of prescribing mifepristone via telehealth to a Texas resident.
“As Acting Ulster County Clerk, I take my responsibilities and the oath I swore with the utmost seriousness,” Bruck said.
“Today, I was sued in my official capacity for upholding New York State’s Shield Law, which protects providers of reproductive health care. While pending litigation limits what I can share, I want to make clear that it is an honor to serve Ulster County in this role, and I am especially grateful to do so at such a critical moment for our County, our State, and the protection of fundamental rights under New York law.”
Bruck formally rejected Paxton’s filings in March, invoking New York’s Shield Law — a first-of-its-kind action by a County Clerk in the state. Earlier this month, Paxton’s office attempted to resubmit the same filings and issued an arbitrary July 16 deadline for Bruck to reverse his decision.
In a July 9 letter to Paxton’s office, Bruck was unequivocal:
“That rejection stands. Resubmitting the same materials does not alter the outcome. 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.
Bruck’s March decision made him the first County Clerk in New York to enforce the Shield Law, which protects providers of reproductive health services from out-of-state civil and criminal actions.
His actions have earned praise from Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and local leaders across New York State.
After Joe Biden won the 2020 U.S. presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede while making claims of election fraud, Ken Paxton aided Trump in his efforts to overturn the result.
He filed the unsuccessful Texas v. Pennsylvania case in the U.S. Supreme Court and spoke at the rally Trump held on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Throughout the course of Biden’s presidency, Paxton pursued legal action against the administration nearly 50 times.
In 2015, Paxton was indicted on state securities fraud charges relating to activities before taking office; he pleaded not guilty. Those charges were dismissed in 2025.
In October 2020, several high-level assistants in Paxton’s office accused him of “bribery, abuse of office and other crimes.”
In May 2023 Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 121–23, leading to his suspension from that republican controlled body.
The articles of impeachment included allegations that Paxton gave preferential treatment to a political donor who bribed him, misapplied public resources and made false statements against whistleblowers, obstructed justice in the securities fraud trial against him, and made false statements regarding his financial interests.
In September 2023, the Texas Senate voted 16–14 to acquit Paxton of all articles of impeachment, ending his suspension from office.
Two weeks ago Paxton’s wife, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton, announced that she has filed for divorce citing extramarital affairs and criminality. Paxton is currently primarying fellow Trump accolade U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
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Read more about abortion rights in New York State.
Photo: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s 2015 mug shot.
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