IDAHO — A federal judge has permanently blocked Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, along with Ada and Valley County prosecutors, from prosecuting health care providers who refer patients for out-of-state abortions.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill signed a consent decree on Thursday prohibiting the attorney general and county prosecutors from sanctioning medical providers for counseling patients about abortion options in other states. The settlement also requires the attorney general's office to pay $400,000 in legal fees.
"This resolution affirms something every patient deserves: open, honest care from a provider they trust," said Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky.
The case began in April 2023 when Labrador issued a legal opinion stating that referring patients out-of-state for abortions could violate Idaho's abortion ban. Days after the initial lawsuit was filed, Labrador rescinded his opinion, but ACLU continued to advance the lawsuit, arguing that the withdrawal "did not eliminate the 'well-founded' fear the letter created among healthcare providers."
The Office of the Attorney General released the following statement regarding Thursday's settlement: “Idaho’s strong pro-life laws remain fully in effect, and we remain proud to defend the rights of mothers and their unborn children. This settlement simply affirms what our office already made clear in court: we do not have the authority to prosecute referrals for out-of-state services. Resolving this matter through settlement avoids unnecessary litigation and protects Idaho taxpayers from further costs.”
