A Florida appeals court upheld a decision to deny a pregnant 16-year-old an abortion, as she is not “sufficiently mature” to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy.
The pregnant girl “had not established by clear and convincing evidence that she was sufficiently mature to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy,” Judges Harvey Jay, Rachel Nordby, and Scott Makar stated on Aug. 15. The three mostly sided with Frydrychowicz, although Makar suggested that the case be sent back to the circuit judge in Tallahassee for a potential further review.
“Given the open-ended nature of the order reflecting the trial judge’s willingness to hear from the minor again—and the time pressures presented—I would remand the case to the trial court,” he wrote in a separate opinion.
The “parentless” girl was about 10 weeks into her pregnancy when she requested an abortion, seeking a “judicial bypass” of parental permission, Makar said.
Her handwritten petition said she is mature enough to make the decision while not “ready to have a baby” herself. The unemployed teen lives with a relative, and has an appointed guardian who approved of her decision and accompanied her to court, according to the court papers. She is also “pursuing a GED with involvement in a program designed to assist young women who have experienced trauma in their lives.”
