David Kallman says he represents prosecutors in Jackson and Kent counties who are among the 13 prosecutors named as defendants in Whitmer’s lawsuit. (The Jackson and Kent county prosecutors’ offices did not respond to messages left by Michigan Public Radio.)
Kallman says Whitmer is stretching the words of the Michigan Constitution to create a privacy protection that includes abortion rights. Kallman also says the governor’s lawsuit is premature while Roe versus Wade remains in effect.
“Unless and until a prosecutor tries to prosecute someone under that law, where’s the case and controversy?” he told Michigan Public Radio.
Kallman says he’s taking up the lawsuit because Attorney General Dana Nessel says she won’t defend the dormant 1931 state law, despite a practice by the department that allows for state lawyers to operate within “firewalls” when cases pit one branch of state government against another.
Whitmer has also asked the Michigan Supreme Court to bypass lower courts to hear arguments and make a preemptive decision. The court is accepting briefs before it determines how the case will proceed.
Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support. Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org