New York Attorney General Letitia James, 24 national law firms, and eight reproductive rights organizations Tuesdasy announced the launch of a legal hotline that will provide legal guidance and resources to patients, healthcare providers, and supporters seeking information about their legal rights to access and provide abortions.
The legal hotline, which is part of James’ new Pro Bono Task Force on Reproductive Health that she convened with these law firms and advocacy groups, will be available to anyone who is seeking legal information and legal advice about abortions in New York, patients seeking to travel to New York to obtain an abortion, healthcare providers, and people and organizations providing material support.
The hotline is free and will be available in the 12 most common languages spoken in New York.
“In the face of this devastating and destructive decision, we are doing everything in our power to ensure people have access to safe abortions,” said James. “New York has made clear that we will continue to be a safe haven for all, and that includes providing legal support to help navigate the complex, daunting, and hostile abortion laws. This network of the nation’s top law firms, advocacy groups, and attorneys in my office will work around the clock to offer this free support because every single person in this country should have the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies.”
“Our firm has continuously fought to protect a woman’s right to choose since Roe was decided in 1973,” said Ben Karp, chairman, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. “In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs overturning Roe, women seeking access to abortions have an urgent need for information about their legal rights. Today, we are leveraging our resources and our historic commitment to reproductive choice for all by partnering with the New York attorney general to establish a reproductive rights task force and hotline to respond to the flood of inquiries from New Yorkers and others out of state seeking access to safe and legal abortions in New York.”
“New York Attorney General Letitia James has stepped forward with a crucial resource that will help cut through the legal chaos left in the wake of the Supreme Court’s precedent-breaking and ruinous Dobbs decision,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO, Center for Reproductive Rights. “Attorney General James has assembled a legal dream team, from the private and nonprofit bar, who will provide much-needed clarity and information for New Yorkers, as well as those from other states who are seeking abortion care in New York, about how this decision impacts them. The Center for Reproductive Rights is proud to be part of this innovative effort, which will be a model for other states across the nation as they too look for ways to address this national public health emergency.”
The task force comes as over the past several years, conservative states have passed laws to greatly restrict access to abortion. Following Friday’s Supreme Court decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion, abortion is now illegal or mostly banned in at least nine of those states.
Abortion bans in two additional states will take effect in the coming days; four more states’ bans will take effect 30 days after the decision; six more states are expected to ban abortion in the coming weeks; and the fate of abortion remains uncertain in nine more states. In addition to banning abortions, many of these states have also passed laws to criminalize patients, doctors, providers, or even average citizens who help others access an abortion.
The hotline, which will be staffed by trained attorneys, is intended to help individuals understand their legal rights, including those seeking an abortion in New York. It will also be available for doctors, providers, and other individuals who are seeking legal guidance about how these laws may apply to them.
The National Institute for Reproductive Health Hotline Number: (212) 899-5567, Abortion FAQ. The hotline is not intended to provide medical advice or help individuals find an abortion clinic.
Abortion Resources:
To find an abortion provider:
To find information on obtaining the abortion pill:
To find information on state abortion restrictions:
*State of the law is changing quickly. Please review the date updated to make sure information is current.
