From Deseret News archives:
Rowland says state is making example of her
Melissa Ann Rowland, 28, spoke in a jailhouse phone interview Monday with the Deseret Morning News. Earlier Monday, she pleaded not guilty before 3rd District Judge Sandra Peuler during a brief arraignment hearing via closed-circuit television from the Salt Lake County Jail. Rowland said she will be unable to hire an attorney, so Peuler appointed public defender Mike Sikora to handle her case. Sikora is also representing Rowland in her fight against a related child-endangerment charge.
Rowland was charged last week with murder after prosecutors said she refused a doctor-recommended Caesarean section. One of the twins she was carrying was born dead. The other twin has since been adopted.
In a telephone call from the Salt Lake County Jail, Rowland said she agreed with the position taken by the National Organization for Women: She has become the victim of politics.
On Friday, NOW president Kim Gandy told the Deseret Morning News she suspected prosecutors saw in Rowland an unsympathetic character and wondered whether she would have been charged were she a "soccer mom." Gandy said beyond any political statement the case also carries a powerful legal statement.
"Once you've established in the law the right to second-guess a person's decision about their medical care, then it's been established," Gandy said.
But Kent Morgan, assistant Salt Lake County district attorney, said such speculation is no more than "alluding to political aspirations that don't exist in this office."
"We have no statement to make with respect to the criticism I've heard, such as whether or not (the charge represents a position) either for or against abortion rights or pro-choice rights or anything like that," he said. "That was never a consideration, still isn't.
"With respect to a mother's choice to choose treatment, that's never been a consideration because, of course, you have a right to choose your own treatment. This is about the treatment that caused the death of a child, not the treatment that the mother chose for herself."
Comments
- BCS stable at top, Y. up to 14 6:42 p.m.
- Peterson: Woods in tough spot 6:38 p.m.
- Passengers evacuated from plane 6:36 p.m.
- Dunleavy gets 600th win 6:35 p.m.
- Alabama upsets Michigan 6:27 p.m.
- Transactions 6:25 p.m.
- Smith's crisp day leads 49ers 6:23 p.m.
- Pittman's 21 points lead Texas 6:21 p.m.
- Nets fire Lawrence Frank 6:17 p.m.
- Young rallies Titans again 6:16 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Hall comes up big when it counts
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
748 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
468 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - BYU is champion of the state
128 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Y. focused on 10-win season
74
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Max Hall doesn't represent all BYU fans or students, and some of the bad Ute...
Max is a stud I totally respect him go cougar!
Then I hear conservatives say how national parks are not constitutional, so...
Max hall is a freaking stud go cougs
Tough ending, but a good season for the wildcats. Congrates team, and thanks...
Dear Max, You represent Brigham Young University, you represent the Church...
When the Cougs lost a game in their Quest for Perfection season, they said it...
Classless is right! Max you have no class.
I have repeatedly heard from my friends at BYU how they have "higher...
for TCU #4 AP, #4 Coaches, #4 BCS for BYU #16 AP, #13 Coaches, #14 BCS...




You can be the first to comment on this story.