(WWJ) – Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says she will not prosecute any abortion cases in the event that Roe V. Wade is overturned.
In the days after a leak of a draft opinion showing the majority of the Supreme Court is prepared to overrule the landmark Roe V. Wade decision that legalized abortions nationwide, many officials have been expressing their concerns about what lies ahead for women’s reproductive rights.
A spokesperson for for Worthy’s office tells WWJ the prosecutor will not prosecute any cases involving women who get abortions or doctors who provide them, should the court indeed overturn Roe V. Wade.
In a statement released Wednesday, Worthy says she feels like she is “living in the twilight zone.”
“I have three daughters. Now more than ever I must stand to protect them and their reproductive rights,” Worthy’s statement says. “This is not just for my daughters, but for every single person in America so that they can decide what to do with their bodies. Only those who are invited into their decision making process should have any say.”
“And beyond that, as someone who has looked into the eyes of hundreds of sexual assault and incest victims, how dare anyone enter into their trauma dictating what they should do with their bodies,” Worthy said.
Michigan is one of many states that would see abortion access heavily restricted if Roe is overturned, due to a 1931 law that was never repealed, which would go back into effect. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has filed a lawsuit asking the Michigan Supreme Court to deem the old law unconstitutional.
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Democratic Congressman Andy Levin on Tuesday told WWJ the opinion the Supreme Court is expected to deliver will go down with a small number of other opinions as one of the most "profound setbacks for human rights" in the history of the United States.
He says it could even have broader constitutional implications if finalized, saying there are many rights Americans take for granted that “could be endangered,” including gay marriage.
Republican Congresswoman Lisa McClain, however, told WWJ Tuesday she doesn't think overturning Roe V. Wade would take away any autonomy from women -- because it's not about one person's life.
McClain said if it's overturned, it will be interesting to see what the states do.
"I think you'll have a lot of discussions, you'll have a lot of protests and you'll have a lot of opinions on it -- but at the end of the day free speech is what this country was formed on," said McClain. "I think it'll be very interesting. I think it will definitely be top-of-mind if this ruling does put the power back in the state's hands."
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