Pam Belluck

Yeah, a lot has been happening during this time beyond the different ballot measures that we've been hearing and different state laws and things like that. One of the major developments has been these new legal protections called SHIELD laws.

Yeah, a lot has been happening during this time beyond the different ballot measures that we've been hearing and different state laws and things like that. One of the major developments has been these new legal protections called SHIELD laws.

And they have become both one of the biggest legal developments in the abortion access space and also a major reason why women in states with abortion bans are still able to get access to abortion.

And they have become both one of the biggest legal developments in the abortion access space and also a major reason why women in states with abortion bans are still able to get access to abortion.

So almost immediately after Roe was overturned, you have conservative states, red states, putting into place abortion bans that were and are very strict. So they make abortion illegal in almost all cases. There are a few exceptions. And they have penalties for anybody who is providing abortion. Right. helping people travel for an abortion. To states where it's legal.

So almost immediately after Roe was overturned, you have conservative states, red states, putting into place abortion bans that were and are very strict. So they make abortion illegal in almost all cases. There are a few exceptions. And they have penalties for anybody who is providing abortion. Right. helping people travel for an abortion. To states where it's legal.

To states where it's legal, exactly. And this raises some legal questions for providers in blue states. Are they putting themselves at risk if they provide abortion to a patient from a red state with an abortion ban?

To states where it's legal, exactly. And this raises some legal questions for providers in blue states. Are they putting themselves at risk if they provide abortion to a patient from a red state with an abortion ban?

So what starts to develop are these laws which basically say If you provide an abortion to a patient from a state with an abortion ban, we will protect you. Hence, shield law. Exactly.

So what starts to develop are these laws which basically say If you provide an abortion to a patient from a state with an abortion ban, we will protect you. Hence, shield law. Exactly.

So a shield law is basically a cooperation blockade. So it says here in our shield law state, we will not cooperate with another state that is trying to sue or prosecute a resident in our state who isn't involved in an abortion. So that's really starkly different from the way states usually do cooperate.

So a shield law is basically a cooperation blockade. So it says here in our shield law state, we will not cooperate with another state that is trying to sue or prosecute a resident in our state who isn't involved in an abortion. So that's really starkly different from the way states usually do cooperate.

And usually, you know, one state files charges against somebody in another state, and the state where that person is will extradite that person, will share records, will respond to subpoenas. But under SHIELD laws, abortion providers and people involved in providing abortions to people from red states are protected.

And usually, you know, one state files charges against somebody in another state, and the state where that person is will extradite that person, will share records, will respond to subpoenas. But under SHIELD laws, abortion providers and people involved in providing abortions to people from red states are protected.

And the officials in those shield law states are required not to cooperate, not to extradite.

And the officials in those shield law states are required not to cooperate, not to extradite.

Exactly. So the first SHIELD law that passed protected providers who served patients who traveled from states with abortion bans to the blue state. But of course, providers in blue states who were making abortion available to people who came to them were only serving part of the need for abortion access. A lot of women seeking abortions can't travel for one reason or another. It's expensive.

Exactly. So the first SHIELD law that passed protected providers who served patients who traveled from states with abortion bans to the blue state. But of course, providers in blue states who were making abortion available to people who came to them were only serving part of the need for abortion access. A lot of women seeking abortions can't travel for one reason or another. It's expensive.

It's very time consuming. And there's also, you know, explaining to everybody around them in their community, why are you suddenly leaving the state for a few days?

It's very time consuming. And there's also, you know, explaining to everybody around them in their community, why are you suddenly leaving the state for a few days?