Arizona Governor Strips Counties of Authority Over Abortion Prosecutions

Arizona Secretary of State and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs (right) looks on as Kris Mayes (left), Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General, speaks at a press conference calling for abortion rights outside the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse in Tucson, Ariz., on Oct. 7, 2022.Mario Tama/Getty Images

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs stripped counties of their right to hold authority over abortion prosecutions in an executive order announced on Friday.

Under the executive order (pdf), Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has exclusive authority over criminal prosecutions of medical providers, other entities, or individuals for violations of Arizona’s abortion statutes.