Over 60 prosecutors, AGs say they will not criminalize abortion if Roe v. Wade overturned

Over 60 local prosecutors and state attorneys general issued a joint statement Wednesday saying that they will not enforce laws criminalizing abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that first legalized the procedure nationwide.

The statement comes amid the Senate confirmation hearings for President Trump's third Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. If Barrett is confirmed the court would have a heavy conservative tilt and Democrats have sounded the alarm that Roe v. Wade could be overturned.

The 63 prosecutors in the joint statement took aim at state laws looking to curtail abortions as well as the prospect that Roe v. Wade may be scrapped altogether in the near future, noting that while they shared different personal opinions on the procedure, they felt curbing access to abortion would criminalize health care decisions.

“As some elected prosecutors have noted, the broad restrictions in the laws passed by these states appear to be unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade. Many of us share those legal views, but our commitment to not prosecute women who obtain abortions and health care professionals who provide treatment is not predicated on these concerns alone – and, indeed, would hold even if the protections of Roe v. Wade were to be eroded or overturned,” they said.

“Not all of us agree on a personal or moral level on the issue of abortion. And not all of us are in states where women's rights are threatened by statutes criminalizing abortion. What brings us together is our view that as prosecutors we should not and will not criminalize healthcare decisions such as these – and we believe it is our obligation as elected p... (Read more)

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