FLORENCE, Ala. — A jailed Alabama woman, known for confidentiality purposes as Jane Doe, has stopped her lawsuit to receive an abortion and instead wants to give birth to her child.
In her original court filing, Doe wrote “I am very distraught, and do not want to be forced to carry this pregnancy to term.”
Now the inmate, currently held in the Lauderdale County Detention Facility for charges of chemical endangerment of a child, has completely changed her mind.
Doe authorized her attorney, Maurice McCaney, to file an Affidavit in the U.S. District Court of North Alabama which reads: “After much consideration and counsel, I have decided that I no longer desire to pursue an abortion procedure and intend to carry the unborn child to full term and birth.”
The document goes on to say,”I have arrived at this decision of my own volition and choosing without any promise of present and/or future consideration and without any undue influence, duress, or threat of harm, whether actual or implied.”
Last week, Doe sued Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton for her right to receive an abortion that was denied. Singleton argued that the denial of release for the procedure was merely in accordance with the jail’s longstanding policy of requiring inmates to get a state court order for any elective, non-emergency medical procedure outside the Florence jail.
Doe, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the jail policy is unconstitutional because they say interferes with her federally-protected right to terminate a pregnancy.
Before the withdrawal of the suit, U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon was expected to rule Friday.
Per court documents, Jane Doe said she was pregnant before her arrest and was in her first trimester at the time of her jailing.
Related: Hear Alabama radio host’s epic response to Planned Parenthood selling body parts of aborted babies
Abortion has recently become thrust into the spotlight again after a pro-life organization named the Center for Medical Progress began releasing covertly-filmed videos of Planned Parenthood officials describing the dismemberment and sale of aborted babies.
Thousands of pro-life activists participated in protests at Planned Parenthood locations across the country Tuesday, including hundreds in Birmingham.
“Human life is amazing. We often sit in awe of it. It hits us when we are present for the birth of newborn baby, when we witness an Olympic athlete break a world record, or the passing of a loved one. Humanity is fragile, but it is also extremely resilient,” said Eagle Forum executive director Deborah Garrett at the rally. “The Essence of human rights is the right to life and each day our government funds Planned Parenthood it is rejecting basic human rights for women in Alabama and our nation.”
