Republican Kari Lake joins Democrats’ criticism of pro-life ruling

Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday said she would not rest in fighting for abortion after a state Supreme Court ruling welcomed by pro-lifers. The Arizona Supreme Court decided Tuesday that state officials could enforce an old law protecting nearly all unborn babies from abortion, except when an abortion is necessary to save the mother’s life. The court ruled that the law doesn’t conflict with a newer law protecting children after 15 weeks.

What are Republicans saying about this? Arizona Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kari Lake said in a statement that she opposed the ruling and called on the governor and state legislature for “an immediate commonsense solution.”

What are the chances that Arizona’s state legislature will pass a different law? The Republican Party controls the House and Senate in the Arizona State Legislature. Senate President Warren Peterson and House Speaker Ben Toma said in a joint statement Tuesday that a delayed enforcement agreement was in effect. For 60 days following the ruling, Arizona officials cannot enforce the law protecting nearly all unborn babies. During that time, the two Republican leaders say they will listen to their constituents and decide what to do.

Will the law be enforced after those 60 days? Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, on Tuesday said she wouldn’t prosecute any women or doctors in the state under the older law, which she said was excessively harsh.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift on the details of the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision and how the case came before it.