Teen Abortion Law Voided by Montana Court

United States – On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Montana found out that a law that makes it mandatory for minors wishing to undergo abortions to notify their parents is unconstitutional. The court’s opinion was supported by Justice Laurie McKinnon, who noted that the right to make reproductive decisions is a human right belonging to minors, and the state was unable to demonstrate why it was legitimate to interfere in such matters, as reported by Reuters.

Planned Parenthood Praises the Decision

Martha Fuller, President of Planned Parenthood Montana, welcomed the ruling, stating, “The right of the people of Montana to privacy has been recognized in the decision made, and the constitutional rights of Montanans were protected today by the Court.”

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican who defended the law, did not respond to requests for comment.

Background and Legal Implications

The legislation never took effect because its implementation was met with legal suits as soon as the law was enacted in 2013. It let the minor who wanted an abortion get consent from a judge rather than involve the parents. This decision does not invalidate the other law from the same year that mandates parents must be informed if a minor intends to get an abortion – law that is still being litigated, as reported by Reuters.

Montana’s Stance on Abortion Rights

Montana state law guarantees a constitutional right to abortion, upheld by the Montana Supreme Court since 1999; therefore, Montana does not have any law banning abortion before fetal viability – approximately, the 24th week of pregnancy. This sets Montana out from other Republican governed states that have implemented even more rigid abortion bans after the U. S. Supreme Court in 2022 deleted constitutional abortion rights.