Sister of AZ Supreme Court Judge Slams Abortion Ban Ruling in Scathing Op-Ed, Complete With Incredible Disclaimer

AP Photo/Matt York, File

Laurie Roberts, a columnist for The Arizona Republic, penned a fiery op-ed on Wednesday that outlined the potential political fallout of Arizona’s Supreme Court upholding an abortion ban from 1864.

The op-ed, which also appeared on AZCentral.com, issued a blunt warning to Republicans whose names were scheduled to appear on Arizona ballots in November, including former President Donald Trump and Senate hopeful Kari Lake. Roberts wrote: “That movement you feel under your feet? That’s one of America’s key battleground states swinging blue.”

Roberts continued to plot out a possible outcome:

But here is what is clear: If the GOP-run Legislature does nothing and allows this 19th century law to stand, Republicans soon could be looking at a state where abortion is a constitutional right and Democrats take total control of the state.

The Arizona for Abortion Access initiative, enshrining abortion into the state constitution, already has the signatures to get on the November ballot. It already was going to boost voter turnout, which is no small thing in a state that [President] Joe Biden won by just 0.3%.

But now, with a Civil War-era law in place that criminalizes abortion except to save the life of the mother?

If I were Donald Trump or Kari Lake, I’d be frantic.

If I were Reps. David Schweikert or Juan Ciscomani, running in swing congressional districts, I’d be gnawing my teeth into nubs.

But something Roberts disclosed at the end of her piece added an incredibly personal layer to her perspective:

Disclaimer: My sister sits on the Arizona Supreme Court. Prior to the ruling’s release, I had no idea what the court would decide or how she voted. Conversely, she has no idea of what I’m writing in response. It’s better that way for peace and harmony at family gatherings.

Roberts’ sister is the court’s Vice Chief Ann Scott Timmer, who voted against upholding the law along with Chief Justice Robert Brutinel.