Supreme Court declines to revive Montana law that would require parental consent for minors to obtain abortions
The state argued that the measure, which was enacted in 2013 but never went into effect because of litigation, should be upheld based on the right of parents to decide on health care decisions involving their children.
The Montana Supreme Court struck down the law last year, saying it violated the state constitution, including a provision that protects the rights of minors.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote a statement agreeing with the decision not to hear the case, saying it was a 'poor vehicle' but expressing some support for the underlying legal arguments.
His statement was joined by fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas.
In asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in, Montana officials said the state high court's ruling was inconsistent with the right of parents to oversee the care of their children, which has been recognized under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.
The law requires any minor seeking an abortion to obtain parental consent or a waiver that can be sought from a judge in certain circumstances.
The state court ruled that 'a minor's right to control her reproductive decisions is among the most fundamental of the rights she possesses' and the state had failed to show how its own interests overcame those protections.
Montana is an outlier among Republican-led states in that abortion remains widely available despite the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling that overturned abortion rights landmark Roe v. Wade.
The Montana Supreme Court has long recognized a right to abortion under the state constitution, and in 2024 voters also approved a ballot initiative that protects the right to abortion.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Unifor condemns federal government's attack on CUPE flight attendants' right to strike and fair and free collective bargaining
TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor strongly condemns the federal government's imposition of binding arbitration between Air Canada and CUPE Flight Attendants, cutting short a legal strike action just hours after it began. "This move by the federal government sends a clear message to federally regulated employers: don't bother bargaining fairly with workers because the government will step in to strip away your right to strike," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Our message is equally clear – Unifor will always defend workers' right to strike and any government or company that tries to rip that away is in for one hell of a fight." On the first day of the strike, Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to arbitrate the dispute. "The government is condoning Air Canada's refusal to bargain fairly while blocking workers' legitimate fight against unpaid work. Workers have constitutional rights in this country, and we expect our own governments to uphold them," said Payne. "My message to these same federal employers, many of whom Unifor also bargains with, is to consider hard on what you are sowing, because here's the truth: suppressing the rights of workers will never bring you labour peace." Unifor stands shoulder-to-shoulder with CUPE flight attendants, having issued a solidarity letter earlier this week and pledging ongoing support in the fight for justice and respect on the job. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fox News
18 minutes ago
- Fox News
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate urged to drop out of race after shocking rant
Fox News correspondent Madison Scarpino has the latest on South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod's arrest video on 'Fox Report.'
CBS News
18 minutes ago
- CBS News
West Virginia to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to D.C.
Hundreds of West Virginia National Guard members will deploy across the nation's capital as part of the Trump administration's effort to overhaul policing in the District of Columbia through a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness. The move comes as federal agents and National Guard troops have begun to appear across the heavily Democratic city after President Trump's executive order on Monday, federalizing local police forces and activating about 800 D.C. National Guard troops. Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Saturday that he was sending a contingent of 300 to 400 members. "West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation's capital," Morrisey said. By adding outside troops to join the existing National Guard deployment and federal law enforcement officers temporarily assigned to Washington, Mr. Trump is exercising even tighter control over the city. It's a power play that the president has justified as an emergency response to crime and homelessness, even though district officials have noted that violent crime is lower than it was during Trump's first term in office. A protest against Mr. Trump's intervention drew scores to Dupont Circle on Saturday afternoon before a march to the White House, about 1.5 miles away. Demonstrators assembled behind a banner that said "No fascist takeover of D.C.," and some in the crowd held signs that said "No military occupation." Mr. Trump was at his Virginia golf club after Friday's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The West Virginia activation also suggests the administration sees the need for additional manpower after the president personally played down the need for Washington to hire more police officers. Maj. Gen. James Seward, West Virginia's adjutant general, said in a statement that members of the state's National Guard "stand ready to support our partners in the National Capital Region" and that the Guard's "unique capabilities and preparedness make it an invaluable partner in this important undertaking." Federal agents have appeared in some of the city's most highly trafficked neighborhoods, garnering a mix of praise, pushback and alarm from local residents and leaders across the country. City leaders, who are obliged to cooperate with the president's order under the federal laws that direct the district's local governance, have sought to work with the administration, though they have bristled at the scope of the president's takeover. On Friday, the administration reversed course on an order that aimed to place the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as an "emergency police commissioner" after the district's top lawyer sued to contest. After a court hearing, Attorney General Pam Bond issued a memo that directed the Metropolitan Police Department to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement regardless of any city law. District officials say they are evaluating how to best comply. In his order on Monday, Mr. Trump declared an emergency due to the "city government's failure to maintain public order." He said that impeded the "federal government's ability to operate efficiently to address the nation's broader interests without fear of our workers being subjected to rampant violence." In a letter to city residents, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, wrote that "our limited self-government has never faced the type of test we are facing right now." She added that if Washingtonians stick together, "we will show the entire nation what it looks like to fight for American democracy — even when we don't have full access to it."
