Arizona upholds 1860s abortion ban; court rejects Trump delay

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Arizona’s Supreme Court said the state could enforce a law from 1864 that criminalises abortions except when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. Arizona’s 15-week ban will stay in place until a lower court hears more challenges to the law, which was passed before Arizona became a state. Democrats quickly slammed the ruling—but so did Kari Lake, a Republican running in a tight race for the Senate in the critical swing state. (She called it a “great law” in 2022.) The ruling could also bolster an effort to enshrine abortion protections in the state’s constitution. Advocates say they have enough signatures—over 500,000—to add it to the ballot in November.