Arizona House votes to repeal Civil War-era abortion ban

NOW THE BATTLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS IN ARIZONA. THE STATE'S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO REPEAL THE 1864 LAW BANNING THE PROCEDURE BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER YET. RACHEL SCOTT IS AT THE SUPREME COURT WITH MORE. GOOD MORNING, RACHEL. >> Reporter: HEY, ROBIN. GOOD MORNING. IT'S BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS BUT THE NATION IS STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE IMPACT OF ROE VERSUS WADE BEING OVERTURNED. IT IS NOW BACK IN FRONT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ARIZONA AS TAKES ONE STEP TO REPEALING THEIR NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN. THIS MORNING ARIZONA IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO REPEALING A NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION. WRITTEN INTO LAW BEFORE IT WAS EVEN A STATE. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF STALE MATE THE STATE LEGISLATURE ADVANCING A BILL. 14 STATES HAVE BANNED ABORTION FROM THE POINT OF CONCEPTION SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE JUSTICES WEIGHING THE IMPACT OF ONE OF THE STATE ABORTION BANS. THE QUESTION NOW WHETHER HOSPITALS IN IDAHO, WHICH HAS A NEAR TOTAL BAN, CAN REFUSE TO PROVIDE ABORTIONS IN AN EMERGENCY IF THE HEALTH OF A WOMAN IS AT SERIOUS RISK. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ARGUING FEDERAL LAW MANDATES THEY HAVE EMERGENCY CARE EVEN IF THAT MEANS AN ABORTION. LIBERAL JUSTICES INSISTING IDAHO'S BAN HAS A DIRE IMPACT ON PATIENTS. >> WITHIN THESE RARE CASES THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WHERE THE WOMAN'S LIFE IS NOT IN PERIL BUT SHE'S GOING TO LOSE HER REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. >> Reporter: MANY SEEMED INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE DECISION. >> THE STATUTE IMPOSES ON A HOSPITAL A DUTY TO THE WOMAN AND ALSO TO THE CHILD. IT DOESN'T TELL THE HOSPITAL HOW IT IS TO ADJUDICATE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THOSE INTERESTS. IT LEAVES THAT TO STATE LAW. >> Reporter: BUT JUSTICE BARRETT, A STAUNCH OPPONENT. >> IT IS CASE BY CASE. >> I'M KIND OF SHOCKED. I THOUGHT YOUR OWN EXPERT HAD SAID BELOW THESE KINDS OF CASES WERE COVERED. YOU'RE NOW SAYING THEY'RE NOT? >> I'M NOT. THAT'S MY POINTED. >> YOU'RE HEDGING. >> Reporter: A DECISION IN THAT CASE IS EXPECTED SOMETIME IN JUNE. AS FOR ARIZONA, THAT BILL STILL NEEDS TO CLEAR THE STATE SENATE BEFORE IT HITS THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. STATE LAWMAKERS EXPECTED TO RETURN BACK TO SESSION NEXT WEEK.

Channel: ABC News

Views: 6,898

Keywords: 1864, abortion, arizona, ban, civil, democrats, p_cmsid=2494279, p_vid=news-109616646, repeal, republicans, war

Id: WAbyYV580HY

Length: 2min 32sec (152 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 25 2024