by Sacramento, California – California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that his administration is blocking an attempt by Louisiana officials to extradite a California-based doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to a woman in Louisiana, escalating an interstate clash over abortion laws and enforcement. The development was first reported by Associated Press, which detailed the competing legal positions of the two states.
Louisiana Sought Extradition Under Strict Abortion Laws
The announcement came one day after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said his office had sent extradition paperwork seeking to bring the physician to Louisiana to face criminal charges. Louisiana enforces some of the strictest abortion restrictions in the United States, including criminal penalties for providers involved in medication abortions.
Louisiana officials are seeking the extradition of Remy Coeytaux, a physician based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who is accused of mailing abortion-inducing drugs to a Louisiana woman in 2023. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Coeytaux faces a charge of abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs and could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
Newsom Cites California Protections for Providers
Gov. Newsom said complying with the extradition request would violate an executive order he signed in 2022. That order prohibits California state agencies from cooperating with other states seeking to prosecute abortion providers for care that is legal under California law.
“We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services,” Newsom said. “Not today. Not ever.”
California law explicitly shields abortion providers from criminal prosecution or extradition related to abortion services provided to out-of-state patients.
Louisiana Officials Decline Immediate Comment
Landry’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Newsom’s decision. The extradition effort had been framed by Louisiana officials as a necessary step to enforce the state’s abortion ban.
Efforts to reach Coeytaux for comment were unsuccessful. An email and phone message seeking his response to the extradition attempt went unanswered.
Case Tied to Broader Legal Challenge
The woman who received the abortion pills, Rosalie Markezich, has sought to join a lawsuit aimed at blocking telehealth prescriptions of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions.
In court filings, Markezich said her then-boyfriend used her email address to order the pills from Coeytaux and had her forward a $150 payment. She said she never spoke directly with the physician, did not want to take the pills, and felt pressured into the situation.
The claims reflect broader arguments from anti-abortion groups that telehealth prescribing and mail delivery of abortion medication can enable coercion or abuse.
Medication Abortion at Center of National Debate
Medication abortion has been available in the United States since 2000, when the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone. Pills now account for the majority of abortions in the U.S. and are a key reason abortion numbers rose in 2024 despite state-level bans, according to recent reports.
The clash between California and Louisiana highlights the growing tension between states with opposing abortion laws, particularly as telehealth and cross-state medical care continue to challenge traditional enforcement boundaries.
