Update [2005-5-3 16:26:50 by susanhbu]: “The circuit judge ruled today that a 13-year-old foster child may terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The judge made the ruling about two hours after Gov. Jeb Bush announced the state would pursue no more appeals in the controversial case.” The judge said, ”As the days go by, the circumstances become more compelling and the further delay further puts this child’s life at risk.” … L.G. ran away from a group home in early or mid-January, and became pregnant at that time. She discovered the pregnancy about two weeks ago. … ”Hopefully, she will be able to go forward and make her choice,” said the girl’s attorney at Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Maxine Williams. ‘It’s going to be imminent, very soon.”’ (Miami Herald)
Earlier: The Miami Herald reports this morning that the 13-year-old Palm Beach County foster child “at the center of a legal battle over her right to end an unwanted pregnancy got permission from a [Palm Beach County] judge Monday to get an abortion — but was thwarted shortly afterward when state child-welfare officials appealed.” (See ductapefatwa’s diary.)
Meanwhile, the Herald notes wryly, “[t]he story of the Legislative session that ends Friday will be written with the names of hurricanes and in pictures of Terri Schiavo and Jessica Lunsford.”
Jeb Bush signed the Jessica Lunsford Act on Monday. The Legislature has until Friday to “get back on track and vote on nearly every major piece of legislation, ranging from the budget to lobbyist rules and schools.”
My guess is that the Lunsford legislation took very little time since there was much unanmity.
It’s the Schiavo case that really bogged down the legislature…. irresponsible, to say the least.
So, will the teen’s abortion case go up the courts? How far along is she? I.e, how will time affect this case?
I’m embarrassed that other people can see what America is doing. Especially what Floridians are doing.
I heard this child is 13 weeks along and it was another foster child in the home that impregnated her. I am sure Jeb “my children are so stoned” Bush will make sure that the child protective services :and I use that term loosely, as they have lost countless children: will make sure that she goes term. After all Jeb wants to be president too and follow in big brother’s step and see how much havoc he can create for the rest of America, not just the glorious state of Florida. If it wasn’t so unjust and inhumane that these right wing American Taliban are trying to force this child to have this baby, it would be comical. Yet the fact remains that they will force her to give birth, then deny her any assistance as she is a mother now and must assume full responsibility for bringing this child into the world. I can only hope that when God in whatever shape or form renders judgement on these morons, it is with a hint of joy and pleasure that they must go to that other place, because they have twisted and perverted God’s will and desire for human beings to be just that, human beings. If they succeed in forcing this victim of rape or whatever happened to give birth, I can only hope that the worst plague that is imaginable comes down on the perpetrators of this heinous act against a child.
Having technical difficulties getting the link to work not sure what the hell I am doing wrong but here is a URL for an AP story that states the State of Fla is not going to appeal any further and will allow the judges order to stand.
http://ap.washingtontimes.com/dynamic/stories/A/ABORTION_DISPUTE?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME
I have a bad feeling they will just drag this our until abortion is not an option. My heart bleeds for that kid, what a horror and that it is piled on past horror makes it worse.
I’m sure that’s what they plan to do, just drag it out until she reaches the third trimester.
I have a nearly thirteen-year-old of my own, and can’t even imagine what the hell the state welfare system is thinking! That poor girl has more sense than the DCF and the entire FL legislature combined!
Perhaps the DCF people who are pushing for her to be punished with a pregnancy should be forced to undergo psychiatric testng to determine whether they are competent. After all, they didn’t bother looking for her when she ran away and wound up staying with an adult who was busy impregnating her. Do you think they should apply the new Lunsford law to him?
Meanwhile, we’re still shoveling out money with no accountability, no goals, and no end in sight in Iraq. What an embarassment this country has become!
As long as she gives that baby up for adoption, it’ll all be worth it. If she tries to keep it, well, she deserves what she gets. Women–or girls–having sex is only acceptable as long as they serve as incubators.
I hope what was posted above is true, that they’ve elected not to appeal and she can terminate.
What a fucking farce.
I heard this morning that Jeb Bush has resigned himself to the fact that he won’t get the legislature of Florida to force this child to carry to term. Seems they learned one lesson from he Schiavo debacle. Don’t underestimate the American people when you try to interfere in their personal lives.