Today, a federal district court granted a request by Arizona abortion providers, physicians, and advocacy groups to prevent a 2021 law that grants “personhood” rights to fetuses, embryos, and fertilized eggs from being used to criminalize abortion services.

A federal district court will hear oral arguments on whether to block an Arizona law which classifies fetuses, embryos, and fertilized eggs as “people” starting at the point of conception.

The ACLU and partners originally challenged this “personhood requirement” last year and though the judge issued an injunction on the “reason ban” portion, it failed to do so for the “personhood requirement.” 

Risk of criminal prosecution has forced physicians to suspend abortion services in Arizona

A federal district court judge granted a request by Arizona physicians and advocates to temporarily block part of a new Arizona law that was scheduled to take effect on Sept. 29.

Two Arizona physicians, the Arizona Medical Association, National Council of Jewish Women Arizona, and the Arizona National Organization of Women filed a lawsuit challenging two abortion restrictions passed in Arizona in April of this year.

The ACLU of Arizona is urging Gov. Doug Ducey to veto SB 1457—a dangerous bill that will restrict access to abortion and criminalize doctors for providing necessary medical care.