Arizona judge OKs sweeping protections for unborn

An Arizona law dating back to the Civil War allows the prosecution of abortionists and others who assist with abortions—unless it is to save the mother’s life. On Friday, a judge granted the state attorney general’s request to remove a court order blocking the law. The order had been in place since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision interpreted the Constitution to include a right to abortion. The court’s reversal of Roe this past summer cleared the way for Arizona’s preexisting protections for unborn babies to take effect.

Will the law stay in place? Planned Parenthood said it would appeal the decision, but the abortion provider also said it would stop performing abortions for the time being.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals about the fight over a similar law in Michigan.