Roe v. Wade overturned: What does this mean in Michigan?

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLUC) - After nearly 50 years in place, the Supreme Court has ended constitutional protection for abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade with a 5-4 vote Friday morning, The Associated Press reported.

In Michigan, a judge last month suspended the state’s dormant, decades-old ban on abortion, which means the procedure would not be illegal in the state.

Friday’s decision is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states. Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel says the Dobbs decision is an “extraordinary upheaval in the American legal system.”

Following the Supreme Court Dobbs v Jackson ruling which overturns Roe v. Wade, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she “will fight like hell to protect every Michigander’s right to make decisions about their own body with the advice of a medical professional they trust.”

Below is Gov. Whitmer’s full statement:

“Today is a sad day for America as an unelected group of conservative judges act squarely against the will of the people and medical expertise. We can all sense the despair that tens of millions of Americans—our neighbors, family members and friends—are feeling right now. However we personally feel about abortion, health—not politics—should drive important medical decisions.

“With today’s decision, Michigan’s antiquated 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalizing doctors and nurses who provide reproductive care takes effect. For now, a Michigan court has put a temporary hold on the law, but that decision is not final and has already been challenged. The 1931 law would punish women and strip away their right to make decisions about their own bodies. I am deeply disappointed that Michigan’s Republican legislative leaders have been in court defending this draconian ban, to the detriment of women and families. Some legislators have gone a step further, proposing a 10-year prison sentence for abortion providers and a 20-year sentence for anyone manufacturing, selling or distributing birth control medication.

“I want every Michigander to know that I am more determined than ever to protect access to safe, legal abortion. Now is the time to use every tool in our toolbox to protect women and reproductive health care. That is why I filed a lawsuit in April and used my executive authority to urge the Michigan Supreme Court to immediately resolve whether Michigan’s state constitution protects the right to abortion. We need to clarify that under Michigan law, access to abortion is not only legal but constitutionally protected. In addition, my recent executive directive instructs all state departments and agencies not to cooperate with authorities from other states who want to prosecute women seeking legal abortion care and instructs departments to increase protections for reproductive healthcare.

“I will fight like hell to protect every Michigander’s right to make decisions about their own body with the advice of a medical professional they trust. I will not give in or give up for my kids, your kids, and the future of our great state.”