Abortion in Arizona: 15-week law goes into effect; doctors can’t be charged over 1864 ban, appeals court rules

Under a more than 100-year-old pre-state law banning nearly all abortions, a 15-week abortion ban could take effect in Arizona, doctors won’t be prosecuted, Arizona Court of Appeals said Friday. made a judgment on

The 15-week law, passed by state legislatures earlier this year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade case, is far less restrictive than the near-total ban of 1864. Applies to medical professionals.

An appeals court ruled that laws passed since 1864 allow doctors to perform surgery. However, non-medical professionals are still subject to punishment.

Physicians may violate the 15-week ban.

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Arizona currently has a 15-week abortion ban in law.
(AP Photo/Matt York)

Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brunovich had called for the pre-statement ban to be implemented following Roe’s overthrow.

Democrat Chris Mays, who defeated a Republican challenger to replace Brnovic as attorney general after Thursday’s recount, said he wouldn’t impose a 15-week ban, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.

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According to FOX 10, “Under this interpretation, our modern law allows physicians to perform elective abortions for up to 15 weeks, provided they comply with many strict regulations. “Limited to,” the appeals decision read. FOX 10. Situations not permitted by subsequent law. ”

Democrat Chris Mays, who was elected as the next Attorney General in Arizona, said he has no plans to enforce the state’s 15-week abortion ban.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

After Roe was overthrown, abortion providers stopped offering procedures in the state, reopening in mid-July after a “personality” law giving legal rights to an unborn baby was blocked by a court, and Tucson’s It stopped again when a judge allowed the 1864 Act. Forced.

Other states with strict abortion laws include Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Bans in Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming have also not been enforced, at least so far.

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Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in October that she would use “discretion” in following the law, no matter what the law ends up being.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.