“I have directed state officials not to cooperate with any investigation into the provision, assistance, search, or acquisition of reproductive health care that is legal in Arizona,” she continued. “Going forward, Arizona will reject extradition requests from other states seeking prosecution of individuals who have provided, assisted, sought, or received legal abortion services in Arizona.”

Hobbes’ move was praised by abortion rights activists and groups such as the Arizona Planned Family System.

After the U.S. Supreme Court last June overturned With the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, the issue of abortion returned to the states, with more Republican states introducing strict rules and bans in a jumble of ways, while many Democratic-leaning states introduced restrictions on abortion. ing. Enact legislation to maintain access to abortion services.

But several Republican prosecutors in Arizona have criticized the move while continuing to review the documents, with some suggesting they could file lawsuits to block the governor’s order.

“Is she going to say drug cases and murders can’t be prosecuted?” Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer told the New York Times. “It’s very problematic for the governor to take that power away from me and say, ‘Leave it to the big cities.'”

In an interview with The Times, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell called Hobbs’ move “outrageous.”

With the Arizona legislature still dominated by Republicans, Mr. Hobbs serves as a checkpoint for conservative bills that come to his desk. Hobbes pledged to defend his abortion rights during last year’s gubernatorial campaign, and given the state’s current political make-up, the order is one of the most realistic opportunities for him to follow through on that promise. .