Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement Tuesday that she does not plan to prosecute women seeking abortions in cases of rape or incest and will seek court guidance if she is asked to do so in such cases. rice field.

I got the county attorney’s statement After a near-total ban on abortion Written in 1864 and blocked since 1973, it was declared enforceable last week by a Pima County judge, criminalizing nearly all abortions in Arizona.

Maricopa County Attorney Statement @Rachel1Mitchell Regarding the Pima County ruling on abortion. pic.twitter.com/Gr7WOa0c8C

— Maricopa County Attorney. (@marcoattorney) September 27, 2022

“Friday’s Pima County Superior Court decision on abortion and subsequent appeals do not resolve which of the conflicting laws currently applies,” Mitchell, a Republican, said. video statement Posted on Twitter and Facebook.

Mitchell said her firm has not received a single abortion-related lawsuit submission from law enforcement.

“If no further guidance is provided by the court or Congress by that time, my office will seek guidance from the court before taking any action,” Mitchell said. You will need this.”

Late last week, Pima County Judge Kelly Johnson An ally of Attorney General Mark Brunovich He said the territorial era laws re-authorized by the Arizona legislature in 1901 and 1977 could no longer be stopped since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned them. Law vs Wade in june.

The 158-year-old law bans all abortions unless a woman’s life is in danger, but exactly what that means is unclear. It does not include exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.

Health care providers who break the law face two to five years in prison. This ban was first enacted in 1864, a year after Arizona became a territory, and nearly 50 years before Arizona became a state in 1912.

“I know this is a very emotional issue and I want the community to know that we are not going to prosecute a woman for having an abortion. A woman will be prosecuted for her decision.” I don’t even have a statue to suggest that,” Mitchell said. ”

Mitchell spent Worked for 12 years in the Sex Crimes Division at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office where she worked high-profile sexual abuse casesIn a statement, Mitchell said her office will focus on prosecuting violent crimes.

Mitchell was appointed to the office of county attorney in April after her predecessor, Alistair Adele, resigned.

Her opponent, Democratic nominee Julie Gannigle, found Mitchell’s response lacking.

“Patients and advocates have begged for clarification on this legislation, but the legislation *does not* have immunization provisions for self-administering patients,” said Gunnigle. said on Twitter“Survivors have pleaded with the county attorney to clarify how to obtain a special ‘sexual assault permit’ to have an abortion.”