Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Horne

What's at stake

Keeping taxpayer funds from subsidizing abortion operations

Summary

The Arizona Abortion Consent Act prohibits non-physicians from performing surgical abortions, provides for women to receive full and accurate information at least 24 hours before an abortion, protects health care workers who object to performing or facilitating abortions, and requires notarized parental consent for minors seeking abortions. The legislation also ensures that women receive information on abortion alternatives, long-term medical risks, and the probable gestational age of the preborn child at the time of the requested abortion.

Planned Parenthood challenged the law, arguing that it violated the federal and state constitutions. ADF and its allies intervened on behalf of the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives and pro-life medical professional organizations. The Arizona Court of Appeals held that the law did not violate either the state or federal constitution. The law is now in effect.

Our role in this case

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys served as lead counsel defending the law along with our allies from the Bioethics Defense Fund and Life Legal Defense Foundation. ADF Senior Counsel Steve Aden successfully argued the case before the Arizona Court of Appeals.