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Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Mon May 02, 2005 at 08:17:05 PM EST
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TChris wrote yesterday about a 13 year old girl from a group home in Florida who wanted an abortion. The state objected. A Florida judge today ruled in the girl's favor.

....Judge Ronald Alvarez of Palm Beach County Circuit Court ruled that the girl was competent to make decisions regarding her pregnancy and had the right to do so under the state's Constitution.

The girl was represented by the ACLU and lawyer Howard Simon:

"This is another instance," Mr. Simon said, "in which state government, under the leadership of our governor, is attempting to frustrate decisions that are made within what should be a zone of personal privacy"

Update (by TChris): Florida has decided not to appeal the judge's ruling.

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    Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion | 20 comments (20 topical)
    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:39 PM EST
    This was pretty much a no-brainer after reading the exchange back and forth between judge and 13 year old. There is little or nothing good that can be said about the situation of a pregnant 13 year old. Carrying to term is more dangerous, either birth or abortion has potentially big emotional impacts on the girl. It comes down to our existing code which recognizes this girl's right to determining her medical care. I am not keen on abortion. I think maybe there should be almost no abortion beyond 12 weeks, but I am also not keen on 13 year olds giving birth. This is a no-win situation.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:39 PM EST
    i've been following this story for the past week or so. i'm happy to see that the judge made the right decision.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#3)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:39 PM EST
    conscious angel is right about that.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#4)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:39 PM EST
    What is sad is that so many anti-choicers will rant and rave and rail against this decision... And almost without variance, the people ranting hardest against this will be those humans with a penis... As if any man has anything to say that matters about this whole thing...

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#5)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:39 PM EST
    Johnny: You are so correct! I hope you apply the same metrix to your opinions; If you have never been in the military, you should never comment on military itmes. If you have never been on death row, you should never comment on death penalty cases. If you've never been an illegal immigrant, no commenting on illegal immigration.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:40 PM EST
    Poor girl, the state tried to get up in her uterus. Thank god the courts sided with freedom.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:40 PM EST
    Wile E- The difference being that anyone is capable of joining the military, going to prison, and being an immigrant....but not everyone is capable of giving birth. Hence, the irony inherent in crotchety old men having BIG opinions about abortion. capic?

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#8)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:40 PM EST
    I'm pleased with the outcome. I'm worried about the precedent. This was a private matter and the Anti life/abortion fanatics have used an organization that is supposed to protect this girl for political gain and made a puplic spectical of her and her situation. Some one in child services should be Fired!

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:40 PM EST
    Good point Ed. Child services should protect children, not place them on the altar to be sacrificed to the anti-choice mob. For shame Florida, for shame. I wonder if the radical loony right thinks this judge is an activist, worse than Al Qaeda.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#10)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:40 PM EST
    Yet another example of why the judiciary is so crucial in these days of demagogic madness. Yes we live in a republic, and thankfully: but some things exist outside the reach of public opinion, and for that too, we oguth to be thankful, it is part of what makes our system work. A woman's right to exist and control her body in this nation does not depend on whether her peers "approve" of her. Her rights are simply inalienable. Those of you who are upset with what this girl has chosen to do with her body and life--remember: Your opinion doesn't matter. Keep drooling.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#11)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:40 PM EST
    billy elipsis (patriot): Yup, you are correct. I just went down the street and told the paralyzed boy to join the military, but not to have opinions about abortion.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#12)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:41 PM EST
    Gotta say, if it is true that the 13 year old had 3x the chance of dying from giving birth vs. having an abortion, I guess I agree that she should have had the abortion. Let's all hope she comes through the procedure with no problems.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:41 PM EST
    wile e- oh, a paralyzed boy? sounds like he already joined the military. It's one thing to have an opinion, it's another to have a cause. More people should make this distinction. I'll ask again...why are the most passionate anti abortion protesters middle aged men?

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#14)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:41 PM EST
    billy elipsis (patriot): Nope, not wearing a seatbelt. I have no idea why middleaged men. Enlighten me. I don't care if a person gets an abortion or not. Let them live with their conscience. That is as long as taxpayer money is not used.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#15)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:41 PM EST
    Wile E. I don't like the War in Iraq. Following you line of thinking I shouldn't have to pay for it. I don't like Bush's tax breaks for the rich so I shouldn't have to pay my share of taxes? I like your thinking.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#16)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:41 PM EST
    It is the responsibility of every caregiver to take care of the children in their care and in this case, a 13 year old child needs a medical procedure and it's caregiver, The State, you and I will foot the bill. Like it or not it's the right thing to do.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#17)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:41 PM EST
    “I don't like the War in Iraq. Following you line of thinking I shouldn't have to pay for it. I don't like Bush's tax breaks for the rich so I shouldn't have to pay my share of taxes?” You don’t ‘pay’ for other folks’ tax cuts, particularly if they are paying more $s than you. You essentially get less benefit from the money the feds took from them. I know, I know; OT. Sorry, it’s hard to let stuff like that pass.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#18)
    by TomK on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:42 PM EST
    Most abortion protesters are middle aged men who are challenged by the thought of having women control their own lives. Via reaction formation they channel their desire to have lots of sex into a hatred for women who evidence having sex. They think sex is bad and that pregnancy is a punishment for having sex. Letting a woman have an abortion lets the woman off the hook for the offense of having sex, in their eyes. These are the same people who are against a cure for HPV virus, because they think curing STDs encourages more people to have sex. They are crazy. If you read this and think "Wait, I am a middle aged man against abortion, but I don't hate sex" you should look deeper at yourself. You are lying to yourself, deceiving yourself, and you know it.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#19)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:42 PM EST
    ED Beckmann: Yes, I give you permission not to pay for these items you do not like. Have fun, make a day of it. Any thing else I can help with? I would say that the IMO, the tax cuts are one of two things Bush has done right. (the other is Afghanistan). TomK: Yes kids (the product of pregancy) are bad. A good thing you and I were never one. I thought you were Andrea Dworkin for a second.

    Re: Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:42 PM EST
    I'll ask again...why are the most passionate anti abortion protesters middle aged men?
    Cite your source...I disagree with the premise of your question.... Regardless, what difference does it make? Why are YOU not just as outraged that a 13 year-old girl is pregnant? What about the Felon that got her pregnant? If you are "pro-choice," what about the baby's choice? I fail to see how murdering a child somehow makes everything alright in this case....

    Court: Fla. Teen Can Get Abortion | 20 comments (20 topical)