Arizona Upholds Abortion Ban in Place for 160 Years

The Arizona Supreme Court recently made a ruling that has had a significant impact on the issue of abortion rights in the state. The 160-year-old law, which imposes a near-total ban on abortion and carries a penalty of up to five years in jail for doctors who perform the procedure, has been deemed enforceable by the court.

This decision has sparked intense political debate and is expected to play a major role in the upcoming presidential election, with both President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger Donald Trump having a good chance of winning Arizona. The court’s decision to uphold the antiquated law, which dates back to the US Civil War era, comes in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that ended a nationwide guarantee of abortion access.

While this ruling included a 14-day stay on enforcement, Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has publicly stated that she will not enforce the ruling, describing it as an “unconscionable… affront to freedom.” President Biden has been vocal in his opposition to the court’s decision, criticizing Republicans for “ripping away” women’s rights and expressing concern about the impact of the more extreme abortion ban on millions of Arizonans.

Meanwhile, former President Trump has expressed support for allowing states to determine their own rules on abortion, emphasizing the impact of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. The ruling has reignited the debate on reproductive freedom, and Attorney General Mayes has pledged to prevent any prosecution under the draconian law in the state as long as she holds office.

President Biden has also indicated that, if reelected and if Democrats regain full control of Congress, he will push for federal abortion rights to become law again. This development has significant implications for the ongoing national debate on reproductive rights and is expected to remain a contentious issue in the upcoming elections.