Arizona voters may get a chance to keep abortion legal even if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. 

The U.S. Supreme Court could rewrite the national landscape for abortion access, but it’s up to local officials to enforce any restrictions – and candidates running for key offices in Arizona have different plans if Roe v. Wade is reversed. 

Arizona is facing the possibility of a total ban on abortions this year if states get back the power to enforce their own abortion regulations. 

Gov. Doug Ducey on March 30 signed legislation to outlaw virtually all abortions after 15 weeks, preclude transgender girls from participating in women's sports, and make it illegal for doctors to perform "irreversible gender reassignment surgery'' on minors. 

Bills to ban many abortions and restrict transgender youth from getting reassignment surgery or playing on some sports teams are headed to Gov. Ducey’s desk. 

The constitutional right to abortion is hanging on by a thread, with the Supreme Court considering a case that directly challenges Roe v. Wade. Here in Arizona, where I provide abortion care, a recently enacted anti-choice law only adds insult to injury.

Abortion rights advocates are urging U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan to spurn a bid by Attorney General Mark Brnovich to let Arizona immediately begin enforcing a new restriction on the procedure.

Supporters and opponents of legal abortion are bracing themselves for a court ruling next year that could give Arizona lawmakers far more power to regulate or ban abortion. 

Attorney General Mark Brnovich wants a judge to let him start enforcing a law prohibiting certain abortions despite a federal court ruling which found it unconstitutional.

The question of whether Arizona gets to enforce a new restriction on the right to abortion could turn on whether a federal judge considers it a ban or a restriction.