PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed an executive order that prevents Arizona from extraditing residents wanted by prosecutors in other states for helping to provide abortion services.
The order declares that Hobbs' administration shall reject any request from another state trying to arrest or extradite a local resident for a violation relating to providing reproductive healthcare.
State agencies will also be directed not to assist in investigations conducted by agencies in other states for abortion-related violations that aren't punishable under Arizona's current laws, according to the governor's order.
“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,” the governor said in a statement.
The order would only apply to individuals being charged with abortion crimes that differ from Arizona's laws.
Hobbs' order additionally designates Attorney General Kris Mayes as the primary prosecutor in Arizona for all future criminal cases involving abortions. The governor's office said centralizing the prosecutorial power to Mayes will help ensure one county attorney won't interpret the law differently than another county attorney.
In other terms, the Republican county attorneys of Arizona will have their prosecutorial authority superseded by Democrat Kris Mayes for all abortion-related cases.
The full executive order can be read below:
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