Arizona anti-abortion law can be defended by legislatures, judge rules

A federal judge granted Arizona legislative leaders the right to intervene in a lawsuit against a state ban of abortions because of “genetic abnormalities,” ensuring a defense of the law will continue.

The lawsuit, previously defended by former Republican state Attorney General Mark Brnovich, might have folded up because the new Democratic Attorney General, Kris Mayes, has no interest in arguing for what she views as an “unconstitutional” law. That would have allowed abortions for conditions like Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis — which have been blocked since June — to resume in Arizona.