Some Arizona Republicans change their tune on abortion after state supreme court ban

Some Arizona lawmakers who once supported strict anti-abortion legislation have suddenly changed their tune, denouncing the state’s supreme court decision to revive a 160-year-old law outlawing nearly all abortions.

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law that criminalises abortion, and those who help women obtain one, over a 2022 law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks. The decision was met with outcry from citizens, Democratic lawmakers, abortion advocates and more across the United States who warned that it would harm access to necessary reproductive healthcare and providers.

For two years, Arizona courts and lawmakers struggled to interpret which law would take precedence after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2021.

The 15-week ban, part of the 2022 law, was meant to take effect after the court’s decision but legislators failed to clarify if it would repeal the 1864 law and even wrote in the bill text it did not intend to do so in enacting the law.

Now, the same lawmakers who voted to pass that bill or championed abortion restrictions in the state are criticising the Arizona Supreme Court decision.

Republican state Senator TJ Shope, whovoted for the 2022 bill and co-sponsored it, called the state supreme court decision “disappointing” claiming it “ignored our legislative intent.”

The 2022 law includes a line that specifies its construction does not, “Repeal, by implication or otherwise, section 13-3603, Arizona Revised Statutes, or any other applicable state law regulating or restricting abortion.”

Despite this, Mr Shope said he would work with his colleagues to “repeal the territorial law” so that the 2022 law can stand.

Republican state Senator Shawnna Bolick, who also co-sponsored