‘Daily Show’ Investigates Ala. Law Allowing Lawyers To Represent Fetuses (VIDEO)

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

“The Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams reported from Alabama on Thursday, baffled by a fight over a new law that gives the unborn legal representation in court.

Alabama civil rights attorney Julian McPhillips spoke warmly to Williams about about HB494, a bill that was passed in July and allows for more state money to provide lawyers for “the defenseless.”

Williams thought it sounded great, until she heard some more details.

“HB494 allocates state funds to pay for lawyers to represent fetuses,” said Susan Watson, executive director of the Alabama ACLU, which has filed suit against the law.

In Alabama, when a teenager fails to get parental consent for an abortion, she must go to court. Under the new law, the judge can appoint an attorney for the fetus, making it much harder for women to access an abortion, according to Watson.

Williams then asked McPhillips more about how he would go about representing his unborn clients.

“You’re playing theater of the absurd,” McPhillips shot back. But soon he told Williams that he will often talk to mothers about their fetus using “some figurines,” which he produced to Williams’ horror.

Watch the interview, courtesy of Comedy Central:

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: