A Texas prosecutor has been disciplined for allowing murder charges to be filed against a woman who self-managed an abortion, sparking national outrage. Starr County District Attorney Gocha Ramirez agreed to pay a $1,250 fine and have his license held in a probated suspension for 12 months in a settlement reached with the State Bar of Texas. Ramirez will be able to continue practicing law as long as he complies with the terms of the January settlement.
The case drew attention when a 26-year-old woman was arrested in April 2022 and charged with murder in “the death of an individual by self-induced abortion.” Under abortion restrictions in Texas and other states, women seeking abortions are exempt from criminal charges. Punitive measures against women seeking abortions have not gained traction in legislatures where the idea has been raised.
Ramirez announced the charges would be dropped shortly after the woman's arrest, but not before she spent two nights in jail and was publicly identified as a murder suspect. A State Bar investigation revealed that Ramirez had allowed an assistant to take the case to a grand jury and had knowingly made a false statement when he claimed he was unaware of the charges before they were filed.
“I made a mistake in that case,” Ramirez admitted in a phone interview. He accepted the punishment to ensure his office could continue operating and to allow him to prosecute cases. No other individuals are facing sanctions in connection with this incident.
Details about the self-managed abortion were not disclosed by authorities. However, across the U.S., the majority of abortions are now carried out using medications at home or in private settings. In 2022, Texas was operating under a law that prohibits abortion once cardiac activity is detectable, often before a woman realizes she is pregnant.
Instead of relying on charges brought by officials, the law in Texas encourages private citizens to file lawsuits against doctors or others who assist women in obtaining abortions. Following the woman's arrest, the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the nationwide right to abortion, allowing most Republican-controlled states to impose stricter restrictions. Currently, Texas and 13 other states enforce bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy.
