Dated laws from the 1800s and updated regulations from 2022 are currently the source of a divisive legal debate in Arizona about abortion access. Two opposing, valid laws — one from 1864 that imposes a near-total abortion ban and another enacted recently that allows for abortions up to 15 weeks — are creating a battlefield for abortion rights advocates and opponents. Both sides are fervently arguing their respective law should be the overriding legislation.
During the balancing of arguments in the Arizona State Supreme Court this week, an impassioned plea for the recognition of abortion as healthcare was presented. The case argued the potential profound impact the court's decision would have on pregnant Arizonans' ability to access critical healthcare. The counter-argument emphasized the state's growing interests in safeguarding unborn children, particularly as they approach viability.
