Arizona Governor Signs Executive Order to Protect Abortion Rights and Ensure Access to Reproductive Health Care

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed an executive order that prevents county attorney generals in the state from prosecuting abortion cases. The order, signed shortly before the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, gives centralized authority over the prosecution of abortions to the state’s Democratic attorney general, Kris Mayes.

In a tweet Friday, Hobbs said, “I will not allow extreme and out of touch politicians to get in the way of the fundamental rights of Arizonans.” The order empowers Mayes to “assume all duties” in prosecuting abortion-related cases.

Mayes, who campaigned for office last year on protecting abortion rights, said in a statement that the order “sends a clear message that Arizona will not stand for attacks on reproductive freedom.” She added that the order will ensure that “no county attorney can be used as a political tool to restrict access to abortion care.”

The executive order applies to all future and pending county-level prosecutions related to any state law restricting abortion access. It is the latest in a series of measures taken by the state to protect abortion rights.

The move has been praised by reproductive rights advocates, who say it will help protect access to abortion in the state. “This executive order is a critical step in ensuring that all Arizonans can access the reproductive health care they need,” said Planned Parenthood Arizona CEO Jodi Liggett.