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 ruling affirmed an earlier decision by Escambia County Circuit Judge Jennifer Frydrychowicz to block the teenager’s abortion request, identified as “Jane Doe 22-B,” without consent from a parental or legal guardian under the state law, according to a court filing (pdf) by Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeals.
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….