Arizona maintains ban on abortion dating back to the 1860s

Republican state lawmakers in Arizona faced off against Democrats in a heated battle over a 19th-century abortion ban. The House Republicans in Arizona chose to recess early, while their Senate counterparts blocked a vote to repeal the controversial law from 1864 that criminalizes most abortions. This move comes after former President Donald Trump criticized Arizona’s Supreme Court for upholding the ban, stating that he was confident the decision would be overturned.

In another legal setback for Trump, an appeals court in New York rejected his third attempt to delay his criminal trial for allegedly covering up payments to a porn star. Despite his efforts to postpone the trial, it is expected to proceed on April 15th. Recent polling data from YouGov and The Economist shows that a significant portion of voters believe Trump may be convicted.

Meanwhile, a group of Republicans thwarted a House bill that would re-authorize a surveillance program, dealing a blow to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill aimed to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allowing the FBI to monitor communications involving foreigners abroad that also include Americans.

In response to these developments, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced a bill to combat “judge shopping,” a practice where litigants strategically file cases before specific judges. Schumer’s proposal calls for randomizing case assignments in situations with broad implications, such as the 2023 ruling that restricted federal access to an abortion drug.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, tensions are high as key legal battles and legislative decisions shape the future of the country.