Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
The Democratic Governor of ArizonaKatie Hobbsbarred Arizona’s 15 county prosecutors from prosecuting abortion-related offenses and centralized that authority under the state attorney general’s office, in a change likely to provide greater protection for the right to abortion.
Hobbs announced his signing of the executive order in a tweet Friday, saying it will ensure that differences in the application of state laws by county prosecutors do not restrict access to legal abortions in a state with an abortion ban. after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
“I signed an Executive Order that protects the reproductive freedom of Arizonans. I will not let extremist and disengaged politicians get in the way of the fundamental rights of Arizonans,” the governor said Friday.
Hobbs’ order refers to any pending or future criminal prosecution of a medical provider, entity or individual for violations of any state law that restricts access to abortion, “to the extent permitted” by Arizona law.
The Arizona Attorney General has sole authority over the prosecution of medical providers, other entities, or individuals for violations of Arizona’s abortion statutes.
Hobbs’ order too prohibits state agencies from assisting in other states’ investigations of abortion law violations if the alleged conduct is not punishable under Arizona law and extraditions to other states for alleged abortion law violations that would not be illegal in Arizona and also establishes an Advisory Council for the Protection of Reproductive Freedom whose members will be appointed by the Governor.
The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled last December that an earlier mid-19th century near-total ban on abortions cannot be imposed on doctors, allowing a ban on abortions after 15 weeks to go into effect. pregnancy that the Legislature approved in 2022.
Keep reading:
– Roe v. Wade Reversal: Kamala Harris Claims Ruling Created “Health Care Crisis”
– Abortion in the US: the map that shows how restrictions are growing in the country
– Abortion in the United States: one year after the annulment of “Roe vs. Wade”