Snap Judgment County Clerk
Sep 16, 2025
Taylor Bruck, the Ulster County Clerk, takes center stage in a heated legal battle over abortion rights. He recalls the moment he defied a Texas Attorney General's judgment against a doctor prescribing abortion medication, invoking New York's shield law for protection. Bruck shares the emotional weight of his role, the impact of the shield law on reproductive health, and the personal strain of navigating such contentious legal waters. His story reveals the intertwined fates of local governance and national legal controversies.
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Roots In The County Clerk Role
- Taylor Bruck grew up in a family of county clerks and loves handling historical records and indexes.
- He connects personally to the job because his great-grandfather served as Ulster County clerk for 45 years.
A Routine Day That Changed Quickly
- Taylor describes a normal workday that suddenly turned momentous when a judgment related to abortion pills arrived.
- He immediately recognized the legal stakes and knew the New York shield law might apply.
Shield Law Blocks Out-Of-State Enforcement
- New York's shield law forbids government employees from complying with out-of-state proceedings about telehealth services legal in New York.
- The law was designed specifically to protect providers who deliver care across state lines via telemedicine.