Allegan County Commission candidate Austin Marsman today issued a challenge to Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch not to prosecute any one for seeking or helping to seek an abortion in the wake of new this week of the U.S. Supreme Court contemplating overturning Roe vs. Wade.
“I call on Myrene Koch Allegan County Prosecutor to join her colleagues in pledging not to prosecute abortions if #Roe is overturned,” he posted today on Facebook.
Marsman, a graduate of Martin High School and Martin Board of Education member, cited an article about seven county prosecutors in the state, in which it was said, “Michigan’s anti-abortion statutes were written and passed in 1931. There were no women serving in the Michigan legislature. Those archaic statutes are unconstitutionally and dangerously vague, leaving open the potential for criminalizing doctors, nurses, anesthetists, health care providers, office receptionists — virtually anyone who either performs or assists in performing these medical procedures. Even the patient herself could face criminal liability under these statutes.”
Marsman maintained that If Roe (the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decisiuon legalizing abortion in all 50 states) is overturned, women in Allegan County will die and thousands will no longer have the right to make their own medical decisions.
“In the absence of comprehensive, current statewide or federal legislation, I am supporting the Reproductive Freedom Ballot Initiative here in Michigan,” Marsman said. “It would enshrine reproductive rights in our state constitution.”
The seven county prosecutors who have said they won’t prosecute abortion seekers or providers are Oakland County’s Karen McDonald, Ingham County’s Carol Siemon, Washtenaw County’s Eli Savit, Genesee County’s David Leyton, Wayne County’s Kym Worthy, Marquette County’s Matthew Wiese, and Kalamazoo County’s Jeffrey Getting.
Observers do not expect Koch to join the seven because they view her as a loyal Republican and friend of the pro-life movement.
8 Comments