A woman in Texas is suing prosecutors and Starr County for more than $1 million after she was arrested and unlawfully charged with murder for an abortion she had in 2022.
Lizelle Gonzalez was arrested and charged with murder in Starr County, Texas, in 2022 after using abortion medication to self-induce an abortion 19 weeks into her pregnancy.
The then-26-year-old spent two nights in jail, as her name, mugshot and private medical information made national news, the lawsuit said.
However, pregnant people cannot be criminally prosecuted for their own abortions under state law – not now, nor at the time of Gonzalez’s 2022 arrest.
Days after Gonzalez was charged, Ramirez announced his office was dropping the charges, stating she had not committed a criminal act.
Months after Gonzalez’s arrest, Texas implemented a near total ban on abortion, with murky exceptions for medical emergencies.
State law protects patients who obtain an abortion from criminal liability, though medical professionals can be prosecuted for performing abortions. »
