Arizona Supreme Court holding oral arguments on abortion
Abortion rights in Arizona could change
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Oral arguments were heard Tuesday morning at Arizona’s Supreme Court in regards to changing the state’s current 15-week abortion ban.
Alliance Defending Freedom and Planned Parenthood spoke out about what it would mean if Arizona goes back to a total abortion ban setting the state about 160 years back.
“I won’t ever stop fighting for our bodily autonomy and control over our destinies," said Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General.
Currently, Arizona law allows abortions until 15 weeks of pregnancy but the 1864 ban only permits abortions if needed to save the mother’s life.
“In a post-opps world, we have a very clear understanding that we need to do absolutely everything we can to ensure protection for all aspects of sexual and reproductive healthcare and we need that protection at the highest level," said Dr. Jill Gibson, Planned Parenthood Arizona Chief Medical Officer.
“Maybe a cancer, a pregnant woman has breast cancer or has a cervical cancer that was diagnosed at one of her prenatal visits that would be a life-threatening condition but not necessarily, immediately the baby’s life or the mother’s life. Or if a mother was in heart failure and delivery or pursuing the rest of her pregnancy would put immediate risk in dying that would be an immediate situation," said Eric Hazelrigg, Arizona obstetrician.
“We are not going to prioritize prosecuting for abortion in the state of Arizona. So no we will not be doing abortion prosecutions in Arizona while I’m attorney general… ever," said Mayes.
The Arizona Supreme Court is set to make its decision in the next couple of months.
Below are the livestreams of the hearing and press conferences.
