AG Steve Marshall appeals federal ruling against Alabama's abortion parental consent law (al.com)
Updated on August 9, 2017 at 3:33 PM Posted on August 9, 2017 at 1:16 PM
By Mike Cason mcason@al.com
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is appealing a federal judge's ruling against parts of the Alabama law that governs how minors can undergo abortions without parental consent.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Russ Walker ruled in July that certain changes the Legislature made to the law in 2014 were unconstitutional.
The amendments to the law set up a process for district attorneys to challenge a pregnant girl's request for a waiver of the parental consent requirement. DAs can call witnesses in court and appeal the court's decision. The amended law allows for appointment of a lawyer to represent the fetus. It allows the girl's parents or guardians to participate if they become aware of the case. They can appeal the judge's decision.
In her ruling, Walker wrote that no other states mandated or allowed such involvement by district attorneys and parents in requests by minors for waivers of their parental consent laws.
Before the changes made in 2014, only the minor, her attorney and the judge were involved in the process, Walker's ruling said. Only the minor could appeal the decision.
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more: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/08/ag_steve_marshall_appeals_fede.html
