District Attorney Jason Williams said, “The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade demonstrates complete disregard for the long-established constitutional tenets of our democracy, and is a cruel and irresponsible stripping of a woman’s agency. It is disappointing but unsurprising that many of our leaders are focused not on trying to lift our existing children out of the poverty and trauma that are the root causes of crime, but on creating more desperate situations for women and families.

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office is focused on pursuing accountability and justice for the most serious crimes committed in our community – the ones that keep mothers, fathers, and families up at night – like murders, shootings, rapes, armed robberies, and carjackings. It would not be wise or prudent to shift our priority from tackling senseless violence happening in our city to investigating the choices women make with regard to their own bodies. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe does not change that.”

###