Abortion rights activists argued against a Virginia law requiring parental consent before a minor can obtain an abortion, before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday. Simon Heller of the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, argued that the law is unconstitutional because it denies mature girls the right to decide what is best for them and does not guarantee a speedy judicial decision or confidentiality of court records.
Heller argued, “If men had to travel to another state to buy condoms or to have surgery, people would be outraged …. This really is an attempt by the Virginia General Assembly to interfere with young women’s ability to get abortions.”
Chief Judge of the 4th Circuit Court, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a noted conservative, disagreed with Heller. Wilkinson commented on the law, “The statute seemed to me to present a very mild and moderate form of regulation.”
A ruling by the appeals court is expected as early as next week.
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