Ulster County Legislature approves $50,000 to fund legal defense for acting county clerk

Aug. 19, 2025 — The Ulster County Legislature voted 14-8 on Tuesday to amend the 2025 county budget and appropriate $50,000 to hire outside legal counsel to defend Acting County Clerk Taylor Brook against a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleging improper cross-border enforcement of a reproductive-health judgment.

The appropriation came after more than an hour of public testimony, mostly in support of the clerk, and a protracted legislative debate about whether the county’s insurer should handle the defense and whether New York State should provide funding. Supporters argued Brook acted under New York law; opponents warned of potentially large costs and urged delay until the insurer and state weighed in.

Public supporters who spoke at the legislature’s public-comment period urged the legislature to back the clerk. Amy Fraden told lawmakers, “I strongly support the proposed funding for defense of our acting…