Arizona governor says local prosecutors can't bring charges in abortion cases

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: KJZZ//NPR

Published: Friday, April 12, 2024 - 3:54pm
Updated: Friday, April 12, 2024 - 5:46pm


Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs says local prosecutors are still barred from bringing charges for abortion-related crimes even though the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a near-total abortion ban.

Hobbs issued an executive order last year that gave all authority over abortion prosecutions to Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat who says her office will not enforce the abortion ban.

“It's my job to make sure that the resources of my office are properly utilized and spent,” Mayes told NPR. “And I also have supervisory authority over the state's 15 county attorneys. And I've made it clear that if any of them attempts to prosecute a doctor or a nurse, a medical professional or a woman under this insane, egregious 1864 abortion ban, that I will step in and I will stop them, or at least attempt to stop them.”

Hobbs said that the executive order is still in effect and she’s confident it could survive potential legal challenges. “As I’ve said regarding multiple executive orders I’ve issued, they are not issued willy nilly just because I can,” Hobbs said. “We did thorough research and I am very, very confident in the legal ground that we stand on in this executive order.”

Read more: https://kjzz.org/content/1876915/arizona-governor-says-local-prosecutors-cant-bring-charges-abortion-cases

[Irish_Dem]

1. This is meaningless.

There is a law on the books upheld by a recent SC decision.
A prosecutor can bring charges.

Women are at the mercy of how any prosecutor feels on any given day.
Or if a new one comes on to the scene.

[ananda]

2. No, prosecutors are barred.

...

[Irish_Dem]

3. Sure. What happens when there is a new governor?

Or a prosecutor files legal action against the governor?

The Arizona SC is going to tell prosecutors not to follow the law.

Sure.

[ananda]

7. Well, let them try to prosecute and see what happens.

It won't be pretty.

[moonshinegnomie]

4. If a local prosecutor bring charges

The governor should issue a pardon for anyone charged

[Bucky]

5. I like the intended outcome, but I don't think governors should direct policies to DAs

[The Grand Illuminist]

6. An unfortunate necessity.

Unfortunate that she has to resort to this, yet a necessity as this serves the greater good.