BREAKING: Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Law Banning Abortion In Nearly All Circumstances

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 law that bans abortion in all circumstances except when the mother's life is at risk can go into effect. The law, which will go into effect 14 days after the ruling, mandates two to five years of prison time for anyone who assists in performing an abortion. Arizona joins nearly two dozen states in banning or severely restricting abortion.

"In light of this Opinion, physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a woman's life, are illegal... and that additional criminal and regulatory sanctions may apply to abortions performed after fifteen weeks' gestation," Arizona's Supreme Court ruled.

The ruling from Arizona's high court came after the Supreme Court cleared the way for abortion restrictions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Arizona case came about when pro-life advocates argued that the law should revert to a 1901 ban on abortion after former Gov. Doug Ducey signed a 15-week ban in 2022. An appeals court later demanded that the 1901 and 2022 laws be "harmonized," which led to the Arizona Supreme Court's decision.

In response to the ruling, Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) wrote, "It is a dark day in Arizona. We are just fourteen days away from one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country. But my message to Arizona women is this: I won't rest, and I won't stop fighting until we have secured the right to abortion. That is my promise to you."

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

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