Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs refuses to revoke abortion executive order.

Gov. Katie Hobbs Stands Firm on Protecting Reproductive Healthcare

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) is refusing to back down in the face of opposition from county prosecutors who are urging her to revoke her executive order on abortion-related crimes. According to her communications director, Hobbs is determined to use her lawful executive authority to prioritize sanity and protect the rights of everyday Arizonans.

“We will not rescind this order,” communications director Christian Slater tweeted late Monday. “Governor Hobbs will continue to use her lawful executive authority to put sanity over chaos and protect everyday Arizonans from extremists who are threatening to prosecute women and doctors over reproductive healthcare.”

Prosecutors Urge Reversal of Executive Order

Twelve out of 15 county prosecutors in Arizona penned a letter to Hobbs, calling on her to reverse her executive order. The order grants state Attorney General Kris Mayes the power to handle any county prosecution related to the state’s abortion laws. It also prohibits state agencies from assisting other states in abortion-related prosecutions and bans the extradition of individuals accused of violating other states’ abortion laws.

“I made a promise to Arizonans that I would do everything in my power to protect reproductive freedom, and this Executive Order reflects that promise,” Hobbs stated. “I will not allow extreme and out-of-touch politicians to hinder the fundamental right of Arizonans to make decisions about their own bodies and futures. I will continue to fight for expanded access to safe and legal abortion in any way I can.”

The attorneys argue that the executive order, signed on June 22, exceeds Hobbs’ authority. They believe that local prosecutors should have discretion in pursuing cases, unless otherwise specified in statute.

“The governor’s office should not interfere with the discretion of prosecutors in fulfilling their duties as elected officials,” the attorneys wrote. “While it may not have been the intended purpose, the result is an unnecessary and unjustified infringement on the duties and obligations of elected county attorneys in Arizona.”

Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell expressed her concerns, stating that it is a significant overreach to suggest that the governor can strip away prosecutorial discretion from local elected officials.

The letter gives Hobbs until Friday to respond to their request.

Call for Rescinding the Order Grows

Republican state House Speaker Ben Toma has joined the chorus of voices calling on Hobbs to rescind the order. He describes it as unprecedented, vague, unintelligible, and unenforceable.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to Hobbs’s office for comment.

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