KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A Kalamazoo attorney wants to raise awareness about the legal process a young woman under 18 must go through to have an abortion.
The law in Michigan states a minor may have an abortion with parental consent. In cases where the parents don't approve or where the minor may not have regular contact with parents, they may be granted the right to independently choose
Sarissa Montague, an associate attorney with Levine and Levine, won an appeal in which a judge originally denied a minor her own choice to keep or terminate a pregnancy through a judicial waiver hearing.
"The criteria that has been established is that a judge needs to find either that a young woman is sufficiently mature and well enough informed to make the decision regarding an abortion independently of her parents," said Montague.
If the case is successful, it means the minor has the choice to decide if they would like to keep the pregnancy or terminate. The court order does not require them to have an abortion or make any other decision there and then.
The judicial waiver process takes no more than 10 days in total with the appeal also moving quickly.
