In a significant ruling on Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a 123-year-old law that restricts abortions in the state. The law, dating back to 1864 and officially codified in 1901, prohibits abortions except in cases where it is necessary to save the pregnant person's life. Violation of this law could result in a prison sentence of two to five years for abortion providers, although there is currently a 14-day stay on the law.
With this decision, Arizona joins states like Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi in implementing near-total abortion bans with minimal exceptions. The court's ruling clarifies that all abortions, except those required to save a woman's life, are now deemed illegal in the state, potentially leading to criminal sanctions for abortions performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
