Arizona governor slams GOP lawmakers who criticized new abortion ruling 

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) blasted Republican lawmakers who criticized Tuesday’s court ruling upholding an 1864 law that made abortion a felony in the state.

In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Hobbs called the ruling “very harmful” to the state, noting that Arizonans are “disturbed” by the ruling issued earlier today. She called on Congress to repeal the “archaic ban” soon after she took office, she said.

“I reiterated that call at the beginning of this Congress,” Hobbs continued. “The fact is that some Republicans who are now saying this decision goes too far are the same politicians who praised the Dobbs decision that paved the way for today’s court decision.”

“And both the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate joined this case in court briefs, asking the court to do exactly what it did today,” she added.

The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an argument that the current 15-week abortion ban signed into law in 2022 by then-Arizona governor should be upheld. Doug Ducey (right) after the conclusion of Roe v. Wade. Instead, the court ruled that an 1864 law enacted before Arizona became a state should be enforced.

Under Civil War-era law, performing or assisting a pregnant person in obtaining an abortion is a felony, punishable by two to five years in prison. The law also states that there will be no exceptions in cases of rape or incest, and that exceptions will only be made “if necessary” to save the life of a pregnant person.

Some Republicans who support abortion bans, including Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake, said they opposed the ruling.

Earlier Tuesday, Hobbs called on Congress to “do the right thing now to repeal the 1864 Prohibition and protect access to reproductive health care.” She reiterated on Tuesday: presidential order A signature signed last year barring county prosecutors from prosecuting women and doctors who receive and perform abortions “remains in effect.”

“This only deters extreme county attorneys from using this ban to criminalize women and doctors seeking the care their patients need, and provides integration with the Attorney General.” ,” she said, noting that the executive order has not yet been implemented. Still tested.