Arizona lawmakers have repealed the state’s near-total abortion ban. But a conservative legal group is asking the state Supreme Court to allow it to take effect, at least temporarily.
The state Supreme Court last month ruled that the Civil War-era abortion law is enforceable. Then lawmakers earlier this month passed a bill to toss it out. But the repeal can’t take effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session. That could fall in August or later.
So Planned Parenthood Arizona asked the court to stay enforcement of the law in the meantime. But the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a response Tuesday, saying the court should allow the law to be enforced as long as possible. In the filing, attorneys for the group say they were disappointed by lawmakers’ slim vote to repeal the law but say 25 abortions per day will be stopped as long as the law is in effect. They argue that equates to lives saved.
