In a landmark decision, the Arizona Supreme Court has upheld a 160-year-old abortion ban that traces its origins back to the Civil War era. The ruling has reignited the ongoing debate over reproductive rights and has drawn sharp criticism from pro-choice advocates while being praised by supporters of stricter abortion laws.
The 1864 law, enacted when Arizona was still a U.S. territory, prohibits all abortions except when the life of the mother is at risk. This decision comes in the wake of a previous law enforced in 2022, which banned abortion after 15 weeks except under certain circumstances. Pro-choice supporters have been actively gathering signatures to include an initiative on abortion rights on the November ballot, aiming to enshrine these rights in the state constitution.
Governor Katie Hobbs has been vocal in her opposition to the recent court ruling, calling the 2022 ban “extreme and harmful to women.” However, she also expressed concerns that enforcing the old law would only create further complications and chaos for women and medical professionals in the state.
The decision has also stirred political tensions, with Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego criticizing the ruling as “devastating for Arizona women and their families.” Gallego, who is running for the Senate seat vacated by Kyrsten Sinema, accused his opponent, Republican Kari Lake, of supporting the ban, citing her previous remarks praising it as a “great law.”
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Congressman Josh Gottheimer is taking action to protect abortion rights at the federal level. Gottheimer announced legislation aimed at safeguarding women’s access to abortion care, particularly in light of ongoing challenges such as the Supreme Court’s review of the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Gottheimer’s proposed legislation seeks to clarify key aspects related to abortion medication, telehealth services, and mailing of abortion drugs, emphasizing the importance of safe and legal reproductive healthcare for women.
As the debate over abortion rights continues to unfold across the country, the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision serves as a pivotal moment, highlighting the deep-seated divisions and impassioned arguments on both sides of this contentious issue.
