Maricopa County attorney says she won't prosecute abortions in cases of rape or incest
Matthew Casey/KJZZ
Rachel Mitchell
Following Arizona Gov. Katie Hobb’s signing of a bill this week to repeal the 1864 near-total abortion ban, legal officials are weighing in.
That includes Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who intends to continue not prosecuting cases related to abortions performed in cases of rape or incest, even after 15 weeks — the cap for the law.
"The concerns I have as a prosecutor who’s prosecuted sex-crime cases are those types of situations and I think those exceptions do, in effect, exist now that the governor has signed this bill," Mitchell said.
The repeal won’t take effect until 90 days after the Arizona Legislature adjourns.
