Katie Hobbs’s Statement on Court Ruling to Uphold Total Abortion Ban
PHOENIX – Today, Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for governor Katie Hobbs released the following statement in response to the Pima County Superior Court decision to uphold a draconian pre-statehood total ban on abortion:
“I am outraged and devastated by today’s decision by the Pima County Superior Court to allow a territorial ban on abortion to take effect. There’s no doubt in my mind that this draconian 1901 law will have dire consequences on the health and well-being of Arizona women and their families.
This cruel law effectively outlaws abortion in Arizona — with no exceptions for rape or incest — and risks women’s fundamental freedom to make their own health care decisions. As a social worker, I’ve seen first-hand how restricting women’s autonomy and creating barriers to their health care access hurts their physical and mental wellbeing. I am terrified of the severe, life-threatening impacts this law will have on Arizonans, and I know many Arizonans feel this fear today too.
To make matters worse, this law mandates jail time for abortion providers. Medical professionals will now be forced to think twice and call their lawyer before providing patients with oftentimes necessary, lifesaving care. When politicians think they know better and don’t allow doctors to do their jobs, patients suffer.
Make no mistake: this outcome is the product of a decades-long attack on reproductive freedom. And Kari Lake’s full-throated support of this dangerous law shows how far she is willing to go to take away Arizonans’ freedoms and put their health on the line.
Winning this race is now more important than ever so we can fight back against these cruel attacks on abortion and women’s freedom. That responsibility is not one I take lightly, and I am more motivated than ever to win in November so we can restore our fundamental rights. We cannot allow Lake and her fellow anti-choice legislators to continue this war on Arizona women and families — the majority of whom support access to safe, legal abortion.
As your governor, I will do everything in my power to protect this right — starting by using my veto pen to block any legislation that compromises the right to choose. I will do everything I can to stop oppressive bans created before women even had the right to vote to control our reproductive freedom.
Like thousands of people across Arizona, I am mourning this decision. However, I know that it is important to channel this outrage into fighting for reproductive justice and voting for candidates this election who will protect abortion rights.”