Michigan faces new abortion rights fight: Advocates rally against parental consent law

(Detroit Free Press) Abortion rights proponents say Michigan lawmakers have more work to do to remove barriers to abortion care. In a new report, advocates deliver an urgent call for lawmakers to repeal Michigan's parental consent law for minors seeking abortions, setting up the next fight over abortion access in the state after voters approved a measure to protect reproductive rights.

While efforts to repeal some abortion restrictions quickly secured a spot on Democrats' legislative agenda, Michigan's parental consent law received little attention in Lansing in the wake of the successful abortion rights ballot proposal.

Under the law, those under 18 years old must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian for an abortion. If they can't or choose not to, minors can go through the legal system to petition a court to waive the requirement.

"I think for so long, the judicial bypass process has been propped up as this really reasonable alternative to forced parental consent," said Kylee Sunderlin, legal services director at If/When/How, an organization of lawyers and advocates dedicated to protecting reproductive rights. ................(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/28/michigan-abortion-rights-parental-consent-law/73112131007/