Inslee Bars WSP From Cooperating With Abortion-Related Investigations

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday formally directed Washington State Patrol to decline investigatory requests related to abortion from states that prohibit or significantly curtail access. The governor previewed the move over the weekend, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, and issued the directive Thursday.

"As a result of this flagrant disregard of established constitutional rights and sound legal
precedents, over half of the states in this country already have or will soon ban or severely
restrict access to abortion care and services," the directive reads in part. "This means that where a person lives in this country will determine how “equal” and “free” that person is. We are already seeing antichoice leaders’ efforts to attack sanctuary states, like ours, to reach beyond their borders to criminalize and punish those who lawfully provide or seek abortion services that are protected under Washington law.

Inslee's order specifically prohibits WSP from cooperating with most out-of-state subpoenas, warrants, and court orders related to abortion and requires state law enforcement to review each request with the state Attorney General and the governor's general counsel.

Inslee's office notes that while the governor lacks jurisdiction over local police departments and sheriff's offices, state law bars all law enforcement from "penalizing, prosecuting or taking any adverse action against patients exercising their reproductive rights."

"Washington is and will remain a sanctuary for any person seeking abortion care and services in our state, but we must act to protect our rights and our values," the governor wrote. "To that end, it is critical that our law enforcement agencies not cooperate in any manner with any out-of-state investigation, prosecution, or other legal action based on another state’s law that is inconsistent with Washington’s protections of the right to choose abortion and provide abortion-related care."

Last week, the governor joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in announcing a commitment to "reproductive freedom," pledging to continue protecting access to contraceptives and abortion care. Inslee is also pushing for an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Washington was the nation's first state to legalize certain abortions through a referendum in 1970, and voters approved a ballot measure two decades later that further protected abortion rights until a fetus is viable.