For the first time since the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade took place in 1973, an adult pregnant woman recently asked a court’s permission to legally obtain an abortion for the sake of her health — and she was denied.
Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, requested a medically necessary abortion for a pregnancy with a fatal genetic condition that could forever jeopardize her future fertility. But she lives in Texas, where Republicans passed a near-total abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
Kate sought legal permission to get the reproductive health care she needed, but was turned down. The Attorney General of Texas even threatened any doctor or healthcare provider with criminal prosecution — up to life in prison — should they help her receive an abortion.
Now, for the sake of her health, Kate has been left with no choice but to travel out of state for the care she urgently needs.
This is the sad reality of a post-Roe era in states like Texas that are controlled by right-wing extremists. And it’s exactly why I’ve worked so hard to ensure California remains a safe haven for reproductive healthcare, for both Californians and out-of-state patients who need safe, legal abortion care.
It’s also a prime example of why I joined a multi-state coalition of 21 attorneys general in issuing an amicus brief against Texas’ radical laws that restrict reproductive freedom.
Almost 1 in 3 women now live in a state where abortion is banned or largely restricted. But together, with your support, California remains a beacon of hope.
Kate should not have been put in this position — no person, regardless of what state they live in, should be. With your support, I’m fighting to ensure that never happens again.
In solidarity,
Rob
