Az Supreme Court’s Clint Bolick Steps Aside in Abortion Rights Ballot Battle

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick has stepped aside from a critical appeal concerning the Arizona Abortion Access Act, which seeks to safeguard a woman’s right to an abortion until fetal viability, approximately 24 weeks into a pregnancy.

The initiative, if approved by voters in November, would not only affirm this right but also allow exceptions for preserving a patient’s life or health as deemed necessary by healthcare providers. Arizona Right to Life is contesting a lower court’s dismissal of their claims that the ballot initiative summary misled petition signers.

Justice Bolick’s recusal stems from his marriage to state Senator Shawnna Bolick, a prominent opponent of abortion rights and a past sponsor of legislation limiting abortion to 15 weeks. Alberto Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the court, stated that Bolick established recusal guidelines in consultation with the high court’s ethics attorney.

“He will recuse himself from cases where his wife is a primary sponsor or notably identified as a supporter or opponent of a law being challenged,” Rodriguez elaborated. Bolick had previously recused himself from a related case involving the ballot measure’s description due to his wife’s involvement as a defendant.

Retired Justice John Pelander will now oversee the case instead of Clint Bolick, as per Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer’s order.

The Secretary of State’s Office recently confirmed that the Abortion Access Act has successfully garnered over 820,000 signatures, with approximately 578,000 validated, well surpassing the necessary 384,000 for ballot qualification.

A ruling from the state’s high court is anticipated by August 22, as this date marks the printing deadline for ballots.