Nashville DA says he won't prosecute abortion cases after Supreme Court decision

Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk vowed not to prosecute women who seek abortions or doctors who perform them after Friday's Supreme Court ruling. 

"In 2014, the people of Davidson County elected me to enforce the laws while exercising discretion to promote the public good," Funk said. "I will use my constitutional powers to protect women, health providers and those making personal health decisions."

Abortion is still legal in Tennessee as of Friday, despite the Supreme Court decision eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion.

But Tennessee officials also filed an emergency motion in federal court on Friday to lift an injunction on a 2020 law that would ban abortions after six weeks. 

Funk said in a news release that despite the court's decision, he would not prosecute abortion-related cases, reiterating a statement he made two years ago after the state legislature passed a law requiring doctors to share controversial information about medication abortions.

"I will not prosecute any woman who chooses to have a medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy or any medical doctor who performs this procedure at the request of their patient," Funk said. 

Adam Friedman is The Tennessean’s state government and politics reporter. Reach him by email at afriedman@tennessean.com.

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