Nessel Comments On Leaked Supreme Court Draft Decision

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nessel38490-11

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she won’t enforce a state law banning abortion that will take effect once the U.S. Supreme Court releases its formal opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade, assuming that’s what it will do. A draft opinion from the court leaked this week indicating it will strike down the landmark 1973 opinion legalizing abortion. Nessel says she’s been taking a look at the 1931 Michigan law.

“That law is MCL 750.14, and what that means is that abortion is not just illegal, it’s a crime,” Nessel said. “It’s not just something someone can sue over civilly. People can go to jail or prison for this.”

Nessel says the person who performs an abortion would be looking at a four year felony. She also thinks a woman who performs her own abortion would face possible prosecution.

“What I see happening is just basically not having any abortion providers at all in the state of Michigan, and my grave concern is that you are going to have women who are going to die.”

Nessel said county prosecutors would likely decide on pursuing such cases. She won’t enforce the state law. She said, “I will take no part of driving women back into the dark ages and the back alleys.” Nessel said she wasn’t surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, but she was surprised it was leaked.