Arizona Supreme Court ruled to uphold a 15 week ban on abortion

ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2024
Contact: [email protected]

ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS RESPONDS TO COURT’S RULING FOR 1864 NEAR-TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION

PHOENIX – Today, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to uphold a near-total ban on abortion from 1864. The ruling determined whether Arizonans would live under its current 15-week ban or revert back to a territorial law in place before Arizona was even a state.

“This ruling will put the lives of untold Arizonans at risk and robs us of our most basic rights,” said campaign manager Cheryl Bruce. “Implementing a near-total abortion ban from before women even had the right to vote only further demonstrates why we need politicians and judges out of our healthcare decisions. Now more than ever, our campaign is driven to succeed in passing this amendment and protecting access to abortion in Arizona once and for all.” 

“As a result of this ruling, Arizonans will suffer and die due to the whims of politicians and judges,” said Chris Love, a spokesperson for the campaign. “Arizona families deserve the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy and abortion without the constant threat of government interference. That belief is what fuels our campaign now more than ever, and we will fight like hell to restore abortion rights in Arizona this November.” 

Background

-The near-total ban reverts back to a pre-statehood/territorial law from 1864.
-The territorial ban includes prison time of 2-5 years for physicians providing abortion care.
-After the Dobbs decision of 2022, the injunction of the near-total ban was lifted and the law reinstated by a county judge and then re-enjoined by an Arizona court of appeals. 
-Arizona now joins states like Idaho, Mississippi, and West Virginia with near-total bans on abortion.

To learn more about the Arizona for Abortion Access campaign, visit arizonaforabortionaccess.org