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.
