Andy Gaona Argues High-Profile Abortion Case for Planned Parenthood Arizona Before Arizona Supreme Court
In a high-stakes case that will determine the future of access to abortion in Arizona, attorney Andy Gaona represented Planned Parenthood Arizona in an oral argument before the Arizona Supreme Court this week. The question before the court is which of two abortion laws controls in Arizona – a law first enacted during the Civil War that bans nearly all abortions, or one enacted just last year under which physicians can provide abortion care through 15 weeks. Last December, the Arizona Court of Appeals held that the more recent law controls, and that physicians can’t be prosecuted under the pre-statehood law. On Planned Parenthood’s behalf, Andy urged the Arizona Supreme Court to affirm that ruling.
The Arizona Supreme Court will decide the case sometime in the coming months. One justice was recused from the case, leaving just six justices to decide the matter. And if the six justices reach a 3-3 decision, the court of appeals’ decision will stand.
The high-profile case has attracted intense media coverage, which has seen Andy quoted in several outlets and publications, including CNN, ABC, Fox, Arizona Republic, Arizona Capitol Times, The Appeal, Bloomberg Law, The Messenger, and more. He also gave a live interview on Arizona PBS’s daily news show Horizon.
An experienced political, election, and appellate attorney, Andy has played a critical role in nearly all of Coppersmith Brockelman’s biggest cases over the past eight years. In fact, this was his fifth oral argument before the Arizona Supreme Court in just the past three years. He has been recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, in 2022, he was named to Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and recognized as an Arizona Capitol Times Leader of the Year in the Law category in 2022 and the Public Service category in 2023.