Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Arizona’s state requested Tuesday that the U.S. Supreme Court allow a Republican-backed law to be put into effect banning abortions due fetal genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed an emergency request for justice to prevent a portion of a September federal court ruling that had put on hold the recently enacted measure.

Arizona Medical Association’s physicians group and pro-abortion rights activists were part of the lawsuit after Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona, signed into law the bill banning abortions strictly based on genetic disorders in the fetus.

It’s one of many Republican-backed state abortion restrictions that were implemented in the recent years.

Brnovich asked the court for permission to let the provision go into effect, while the litigation continues.

His request reaches the conservative-majority court as the justices weigh another major abortion case from Mississippi that could lead to the overturning of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized the procedure nationwide. This would allow states to ban abortion completely or impose restrictions.

Mississippi’s ban on abortions in 15-weeks of pregnancy was blocked by the lower courts. During the arguments of Dec. 1, the conservative justices indicated their sympathy with Mississippi’s laws and support for Roe.

Another case saw the Supreme Court impose a Texas ban against abortions beginning at six weeks. However, it allowed for a legal challenge. The fate of the Republican-backed law that permits private citizens to enforce the ban is still in doubt.