With the Supreme Court possibly poised to overturn federal abortion protections and anti-abortion legislation, enforcement problems loom as state prosecutors vow not to pursue abortion-related crimes.
I have statewide jurisdiction as attorney general. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told Meet the Press on Sunday that he ran on a platform of understanding that the Supreme Court would likely overturn Wade.
If the law is overturned, abortion in Michigan would be a felony. The law is one of 13 that ban abortion if federal protections are repealed.
The 1931 law would criminalize abortion in this state with virtually no exceptions, and no exception for rape, for incest, or medical emergencies.
The lives of 2.2 million women who are of childbearing age in this state would be at risk if this law is enforced.
Attorney General Nessel's office did not respond to Insider's request for comment.
The Attorney General of Michigan is not the only one who does not enforce anti-abortion laws. The District Attorneys in Louisiana and North Carolina, who have jurisdiction over smaller regions, shared the same sentiment since the leaked draft opinion from Supreme Court Justice Alito indicated the court may be prepared to overturn the landmark abortion law.
The priority will not be shifted from tackling shootings, rapes and carjackings to investigating the choices women make with regard to their own bodies, according to a statement released Friday by the Orleans Parish District Attorney.
The District Attorney Williams office did not reply immediately.
The New York Times reported that this week Louisiana advanced a proposal that would make it possible for prosecutors to bring criminal charges against women who pursue abortion.
Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry will not prosecute abortion-related crimes if new legislation is passed which criminalizes patients or providers.
Deberry said in a statement that he was committed to the safety and well-being of everyone in the community.
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