A Texas woman named Lizelle Gonzalez is moving forward with a lawsuit against local officials after they charged her with murder following her failed self-induced abortion attempt. The prosecutors, Gocha Ramirez and Alexandria Barrera, previously attempted to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming absolute immunity as they were acting in their prosecutorial capacity. However, Gonzalez’s attorney argues that they were acting outside of this role when they launched an investigation into her abortion attempt.
Gonzalez, who was arrested in March 2022, is seeking $1 million in damages from the officials. Her case gained attention due to the restrictive abortion laws in Texas, including a ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Despite the law allowing for private citizens to sue those who aid abortions, a woman is exempt from charges related to her own abortion.
Following her arrest, Gonzalez spent three days in jail and suffered anxiety and distress due to the intense public attention. The prosecutors faced consequences, with Ramirez receiving a probated suspension from the Texas State Bar for professional misconduct.
The case will now enter a discovery process regarding the defendants’ immunity. While Gonzalez’s attorney expects resistance from the officials, they are determined to pursue the lawsuit. The defense declined to provide additional comment on the matter.
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