FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 7, 2022
PHOENIX— Representative Athena Salman released the following statement today after the Arizona Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay to block Arizona's draconian Civil War-era total ban on abortion from taking effect. Planned Parenthood Arizona, Inc. filed the appeal in an effort to reconcile conflicts between the 1864 Territorial ban and a 15-week ban passed earlier this year by the Legislature. Legislative Democrats earlier this week called on Governor Ducey to call a special session to repeal the total ban. The attached ruling, written by Appeals Court Judge Peter Eckerstrom, indicates that Planned Parenthood has a "substantial likelihood of success on the merits of its claim."
"Abortion patients have temporary relief and some access to abortion care can resume at least on a temporary basis, so this is good news for Arizona," Salman said. "However, the lawsuit will keep working its way through the courts, leaving the status of people's healthcare at the whim of the opinion of another judge. If Governor Ducey can find a meager two Republican legislators in each chamber to join with our unified Democratic Caucus, we can fix this today by repealing the Civil War-era total ban on abortion."
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