(DailyEmailNews.com) – In a major win for GOP pro-life activists, the Arizona Supreme Court decided that an informational pamphlet for state voters can describe a fetus as an “unborn human being.”
Arizona’s highest court ruling was made in reference to a constitutional amendment on abortion rights.
This decision overturned a lower court’s ruling and aligned with the summary crafted by GOP state lawmakers.
The court’s brief order indicated that a detailed explanation would follow soon but noted dissent from Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer and Justice James Beene.
The amendment in question would allow abortions up to the point of fetal viability and make exceptions for specific later-term medical situations.
It also aims to prevent the state from enacting or enforcing laws that restrict access to abortion procedures.
Arizona law mandates that the informational pamphlets the secretary of state mailed to voters contain a summary outlining the impact of ballot initiatives.
In July, the Republican-majority Legislative Council chose to use “unborn human being” instead of “fetus” in the pamphlet, a decision the Arizona for Abortion Access coalition challenged.
Arizona for Abortion Access criticized the ruling, stating that “unborn human being” is “a watchword for anti-abortion advocates with no basis in medicine or science” that the court decided was “somehow impartial and objective.”
The coalition claimed that this language would prevent Arizona voters from receiving a fair and unbiased presentation of the ballot question.
It also alleged the ruling was influenced by anti-abortion groups to mislead and manipulate voter perception.
This ruling came shortly after the Arizona Secretary of State’s office confirmed the amendment garnered 577,971 signatures—well above the required threshold to qualify for a ballot appearance.
However, the measure faces additional legal challenges from Arizona Right to Life, which argues that the summary provided to voters signing the petition was misleading.
While lower courts dismissed these claims, the dispute has escalated to the state Supreme Court for review.
Arizona currently prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
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