A federal judge has ruled an Arizona law banning doctors from performing abortions because of genetic abnormalities can take effect.

The law was passed two years ago by Arizona legislators but hadn’t taken effect because of Roe v. Wade.

That changed when the Supreme Court overturned the Roe decision last year, and Arizona filed suit to allow the law to move forward. Abortion rights groups and providers sued to stop it, but a federal court ruled against them this month.

Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, responded to the decision during a press conference on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling.

"These sacred and personal decisions really should remain between a provider and their patient. We know that this will have an impact absolutely on people’s lives, on their socio-economic status," she said.

Fontento and other abortion rights advocates also called on Gov. Katie Hobbs to safeguard reproductive rights through a series of executive actions, including providing legal protection for physicians who perform the procedure. 

Abortion is banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy under current Arizona law. Under the new ruling, doctors could face criminal charges for performing abortions performed at any stage of pregnancy because of a genetic abnormality.