“Daily Show” Explains the Absurdity in Alabama’s New Abortion Law That Appoints Lawyers for Fetuses

Back in September, Mother Jones reporter Molly Redden investigated a new law in Alabama forcing pregnant teenagers seeking an abortion to first receive parental consent. If she is unable to get permission, the teenager is then put on trial, giving judges the right to appoint attorneys to defend the unborn fetus.

This all sounds insane. Last night, “The Daily Show” sent correspondent Jessica Williams to the state to investigate. Here’s how some of that absurdity played out:

“You get a call from a fetus seeking legal representation, then what happens?” Williams asks unborn fetus attorney Julian McPhillips. 

“I cannot get a call from a fetus for anything much less legal representation,” he answers.

When questioned about how he meets in confidentiality with his unborn client, McPhillips shoots back, “I cannot communicate with them directly, you know better than to ask the question.”

“Well I don’t know! You have a crazy ass job, sir. I don’t know what’s in the realm of possibility and what’s in the realm of not possible.” 

For more on how judges humiliate teens seeking abortions, read our in-depth report here. 

Watch below:

 

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DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY

Mother Jones was founded to do journalism differently. We stand for justice and democracy. We reject false equivalence. We go after stories others don’t. We’re a nonprofit newsroom, because the kind of truth-telling investigations we do doesn’t happen under corporate ownership.

And we need your support like never before, to fight back against the existential threats American democracy faces. Fundraising for nonprofit media is always a challenge, and we need all hands on deck right now. We have no cushion; we leave it all on the field.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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