Posted on Mar 3, 2023
These Texas DAs refused to prosecute abortion. Republican lawmakers want them stopped
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https://www.npr.org/2023/03/03/ [login to see] /these-texas-das-refused-to-prosecute-abortion-republican-lawmakers-want-them-sto
Texas is at the center of an ongoing, nationwide struggle between state and local authorities. It's an escalating dispute over who has what power — and when.
The newest battle centers on criminal district attorneys in Texas' big cities, who are mostly Democrats. Some of these chief prosecutors have told their communities they will use their inherent discretion and not zealously pursue criminal cases against women who seek abortions or families who obtain gender-affirming health care for their children. (Several later said they would make decisions on a case-by-case basis.)
But declarations from prosecutors have led conservative lawmakers in Texas and elsewhere to propose legislation seeking to curb the power of DAs.
Texas is at the center of an ongoing, nationwide struggle between state and local authorities. It's an escalating dispute over who has what power — and when.
The newest battle centers on criminal district attorneys in Texas' big cities, who are mostly Democrats. Some of these chief prosecutors have told their communities they will use their inherent discretion and not zealously pursue criminal cases against women who seek abortions or families who obtain gender-affirming health care for their children. (Several later said they would make decisions on a case-by-case basis.)
But declarations from prosecutors have led conservative lawmakers in Texas and elsewhere to propose legislation seeking to curb the power of DAs.
These Texas DAs refused to prosecute abortion. Republican lawmakers want them stopped
Posted from npr.org
State of Texas
Abortion
Medical
Health
Conservative
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
Good article Chip.
There seems to be a constant battle between the state officials and local prosecutors in many different states. There are many at the local level (liberal and conservative) that take it on themselves to ignore (or not prosecute) those laws above them (this also goes for States and Federal).
You have conservative law enforcement/prosecutors that ignore liberal gun control laws and that throws the liberal lawmakers into a tizzy. Likewise you have liberal law enforcement/prosecutors that do the same with conservative laws they don't agree with. Same with many states ignoring Federal law.
Seems that the only ones that get upset by the action is when they don't ideologically align with the group ignoring the laws.
There seems to be a constant battle between the state officials and local prosecutors in many different states. There are many at the local level (liberal and conservative) that take it on themselves to ignore (or not prosecute) those laws above them (this also goes for States and Federal).
You have conservative law enforcement/prosecutors that ignore liberal gun control laws and that throws the liberal lawmakers into a tizzy. Likewise you have liberal law enforcement/prosecutors that do the same with conservative laws they don't agree with. Same with many states ignoring Federal law.
Seems that the only ones that get upset by the action is when they don't ideologically align with the group ignoring the laws.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."State Rep. Cook, however, said he's open to reining them in.
"I have not filed a bill in that regard, but I certainly would not rule it out," he says.
For the moment, though, bills targeting county district attorneys are what's on offer.
Gonzalez says he has no written policy about pursuing certain crimes but tells his office to simply "do the right thing." He's not running for reelection and said he will be happy to watch from the sidelines should any new law get litigated in court."
..."State Rep. Cook, however, said he's open to reining them in.
"I have not filed a bill in that regard, but I certainly would not rule it out," he says.
For the moment, though, bills targeting county district attorneys are what's on offer.
Gonzalez says he has no written policy about pursuing certain crimes but tells his office to simply "do the right thing." He's not running for reelection and said he will be happy to watch from the sidelines should any new law get litigated in court."
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Here in Florida our governor fired a prosecutor for supposedly saying he wouldn't prosecute any cases under our new 15 week abortion law.....even though there have been no such cases so far.
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