Inmates to Be Allowed Abortions
Originally published in The Las Vegas SUN , June 5, 2002
CLEVELAND — Inmates seeking abortions will be provided more timely care under a settlement of a lawsuit that accused a judge of jailing a woman to prevent her from having an abortion.
The American Civil Liberties Union had sued on behalf of Yuriko Kawaguchi, 25, who was sentenced to six months in jail in 1998 for forgery. The judge, Patricia Cleary, maintained that although she personally opposes abortion, her decision was based on the law.
After she was released, Kawaguchi was advised by doctors it was too late to get an abortion. She gave birth in 1999 and lives with her daughter.
"It's been a hard personal journey," Kawaguchi said Tuesday. "I'm really hoping that nobody else has to go through what I've gone through."
The settlement reinforces Cuyahoga County's existing policy allowing inmates access to pregnancy services including abortions. The county also will pay Kawaguchi $1,000.
Cleary was suspended from practicing law for six months last year after the Cleveland Bar Association accused her of being biased. She was defeated for re-election in November 2000.
After the settlement was approved, Cleary said Kawaguchi "chose to manipulate her pregnancy to try to avoid serving a well-deserved jail sentence."
