Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has faced backlash from 12 out of 15 county attorneys in the state for signing an executive order that limits their ability to prosecute abortion-related cases. The attorneys have called on Hobbs to rescind the order, arguing that it interferes with their duties as elected officials and represents an unjustified infringement on their discretion. In response, a spokesperson for Hobbs stated that the governor will not be rescinding the order and emphasized her commitment to fighting for “reproductive freedoms” in Arizona.
The executive order, signed on June 22, grants Attorney General Kris Mayes the power to handle any attempted county prosecution related to state abortion laws. It also prohibits state agencies from assisting investigations into alleged violations in other states and bans the extradition of individuals accused of violating other states’ abortion laws. Critics, such as Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, argue that the order represents an overreach of authority by the governor’s office, as prosecutorial discretion should remain with local elected officials.
Abortions are currently permitted in Arizona up to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy under a 2022 law. Last year, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that abortion doctors cannot be prosecuted under a pre-statehood law dating back to 1864 that criminalizes almost all abortions. The law had already been unenforceable for decades due to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.