Chicago, Ill., Nov 5, 2009 / 23:21 pm
A judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the enforcement of a 1995 Illinois parental notification requirement for minors who seek abortions. Supporters of the law said the decision means Illinois will remain an “abortion dumping ground” for minors wanting to avoid other states’ restrictions.
On Wednesday afternoon Cook County Judge Daniel Riley said he felt the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sought the order, had “demonstrated the distinct possibility of irreparable harm,” the Associated Press reports.
Thirty-five other states have similar laws, but Illinois has been delayed by various court actions. This means some teens seeking abortions come to Illinois to escape nearby states’ notification laws.
"This is a dumping ground for other states," commented Joseph Scheidler, national director of the Pro-Life Action League. "You go look at the license plates at the abortion clinics."