SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales called Friday’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade a “devastating blow.”
During the presser, DA Gonzales said he would never stop fighting to protect the health and safety of women.
“My obligation is to seek justice,” Gonzales said. “There is no justice in prosecuting women for their own medical decisions.”
In Texas, a “trigger law” is poised to go into effect in 30 days that will ban abortions in the state under almost all circumstances.
Gonzales said while every prosecutor has a legal obligation to comply with the law, he doesn’t plan to prosecute abortion cases “barring extreme circumstances” like someone being forced to have an abortion against their will.
“If someone is voluntarily seeking out this treatment, they shouldn’t be worried about being prosecuted,” he said.
DA Gonzales said the court’s decision will jeopardize the health and safety of women faced with impossible and very personal choices about their own bodies and health.
Gonzales also said he believes the decision will have legal ramifications beyond abortion.
“Members of our LGBTQ+ community are justifiably terrified that fundamental rights to their love, to their rights to love and marry are next, given the court’s reasoning,” he said.
Gonzales stood alongside local reproductive rights groups and told women and members of the LGTBQ community who may be afraid that their rights will be on the chopping block next, “I’m here for you.”
Gonzales said people should be focusing on other issues.
“We should all be focused on gun violence and supporting victims of crime,” he said.
Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales released the following statement concerning this morning's Supreme Court decision on the Dobbs case. pic.twitter.com/9zvvOf7XBy
— Bexar County Criminal District Attorney's Office (@BexarCountyDA) June 24, 2022
“The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision is a blow to women and to public safety. It will set us back decades,” Gonzales said in a press release. “But I am here to promise my constituents: I will never stop fighting to protect the health and safety of women, and for all those who are members of communities that think their rights will be trampled on next.”
Gonzales was one of five Texas District Attorneys to sign a letter pledging to not prosecute a person’s personal healthcare decisions, a press release said.
Gonzales is facing reelection in November. His Republican opponent Marc LaHood sent the following statement after Gonzales’ press conference on Friday:
“The job of the District Attorney is to enforce the laws on the books. Crime in Bexar County is sky-high because Joe Gonzales picks and chooses which laws he wants to enforce. Gonzales’ office has repeatedly refused to fully prosecute heinous cases of drug trafficking, domestic abuse and even aggravated sexual assault. Our Bexar County families and the victims of crime cannot afford Joe Gonzales.”