Alaska teens can make own abortion decision

Anchorage Daily News ^ | 03 Nov 07 | SHEILA TOOMEY

[GATOR NAVY]

The Alaska Supreme Court threw out an embattled state law Friday that required parental or judicial consent before a teenager can have an abortion.

In a 3-2 decision, the court said the consent requirement robs a pregnant teen of her constitutional right to make such an important decision herself and transfers that right to her parents or a judge.

However, a law that required parents to be notified of a juvenile daughter's plan to have an abortion would probably be all right, said Chief Justice Dana Fabe in the majority decision for the court. It's a option many other states use, she noted.

As illustrated by the vote, the decision was a close call. Both sides agreed that the state has a compelling interest in protecting juvenile girls against their own immaturity and that parents have a constitutional right -- a duty -- to guide their children. They differed over whether giving parents veto power over a pregnant juvenile's abortion decision went too far.

[GATOR NAVY]

"From time to time, we are called upon to decide constitutional cases that touch upon the most contentious moral, ethical, and political issues of our day. In deciding such cases, we are ever mindful of the unique role we play in our democratic system of government. We are not legislators, policy makers, or pundits charged with making law or assessing the wisdom of legislative enactments...

`When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'

[goodnesswins]

"robs a pregnant teen of her constitutional right to make such an important decision herself and transfers that right to her parents or a judge."

Well...I guess they just gave teens to the State for care now..... how STOOOOOPID.

[fieldmarshaldj]

From what I can tell, the AK Supreme Court is 3 rodents to 2 Republicans (the Chief Justice is a rodent), but the dissenters were a Republican and a Dem. Apparently one of the 2 Republicans (Eastaugh) went to the dark side here.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This is fricking insanity on steroids. These black robes are running this country into the ground.

[Cicero]

It depends what you mean by “teen,” one might think. It’s noticeable that the reporter avoids using a more accurate word, “minors.”

When you reach 18, you make your own decisions. Abortion is still wrong, but that’s another issue.

But are these justices saying that 13 year old girls who have been subjected to statutory rape have a right to an abortion without telling their parents about it? Or stretching the word teen a little, maybe ten or eleven year olds?

I’m afraid so.

[Revel]

I guess they have judges who legislate from the bench in Alaska as well. The is no American fronter left.

[Mark was here]

Well look at the bright side, at least the pregnant teen still can’t do something really bad, like buy cigarettes. /SARCASAM

[rolling_stone]

In a 3-2 decision, the court said the consent requirement robs a pregnant teen of her constitutional right to make such an important decision herself and transfers that right to her parents or a judge.

Um how about the unborn child, who is looking out for them and their rights? A teenager?

[Reagan Man]

Another outrageous and immoral decision, if there ever was one.

[madprof98]

The dark side? Isn’t that where BOTH of Alaska’s GOP senators are?

[purpleraine]

But, hey, let’s get the parents’ permission if they need an aspirin.

[Nextrush]

They’re always there when you need to build a bridge to nowhere. Sarc

[Luke Skyfreeper]

In a 3-2 decision, the court said the consent requirement robs a pregnant teen of her [NONEXISTENT] constitutional right to make such an important decision herself and transfers that right to her parents or a judge.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

What does “childhood” mean, anyways?

[madprof98]

I understand that it is now defined by our courts as that period in life when people are at their sexiest.

[muawiyah]

These judges know what they like.

Bet they haven't had a good "pedophile on the bench" scandal up there in a while.

It's coming.

[the invisib1e hand]

the logic here seems to be that if you're old enough to conceive a child you're old enough to kill one.

God, I ask you for mercy.

[machogirl]

good point, what happened to those 5 girls (not women) who were under 15? I assume that alaska has a rape law or some type of consent law, that a girl under 15 can’t consent to any sexual activity, wonder if the planned parenthood or whomever helped those young teens out to an abortion, also reported the “sperm donor” for rape? if they didn’t wouldn’t that make them an accessory after the fact? or guilty of something?

[Cicero]

Planned Parenthood is regularly complicit with statutory rape. Often the rapists themselves bring girls to the clinics, and their identity is protected, with the crime hidden from the parents. It happens all over the country. There have been several lawsuits brought against PP for disclosure, but the liberal judiciary usually manages to protect them.

[machogirl]

too bad that prosecutors are hogtied with respect to getting the information to prosecute the rapists and planned parenthood for hindering prosecution

if the organization was really concerned about the “rights” of these underage girls, they would help with the prosecution of the rapists