{"id":2455200,"date":"2025-07-03T11:10:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T15:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-montana-underage-abortion-case\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T11:12:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T15:12:36","slug":"supreme-court-declines-to-hear-montana-underage-abortion-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-montana-underage-abortion-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court declines to hear Montana underage abortion case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsupreme-court-declines-to-hear-montana-underage-abortion-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2455200&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Supreme Court has opted not to revisit a Montana law requiring minors to obtain notarized parental consent for abortions, effectively upholding a state court&#8217;s ruling that deemed the measure unconstitutional. This decision came after Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen petitioned the Court, arguing that the law was in line with the U.S. Constitution&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-launches-title-ix-overhaul\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Launches Title IX Overhaul\">due process protections<\/a> regarding parental rights in medical care.though, the Montana Supreme Court had previously concluded that the parental consent requirement violated the state&#8217;s constitutional right to privacy, ruling that a minor&#8217;s right to make reproductive decisions is essential.The U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s refusal to hear the case was based on procedural grounds rather then the merits of parental rights in relation to abortion. The decision reflects Montana&#8217;s broader access to abortion rights, especially following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Supreme Court declines to hear Montana underage abortion case<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2159155\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supreme Court<\/a> declined on Thursday to revive a Montana law that would have required minors to obtain notarized parental consent before getting an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abortion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">abortion<\/a>, leaving intact a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-roe-is-thrown-out-roughly-half-of-u-s-states-will-restrict-abortions\/\" title=\"If Roe Is Thrown Out, Roughly Half Of U.S. States Will Restrict ...s\">state court ruling<\/a> that struck down the measure under Montana&rsquo;s constitution.<\/p>\n<p>The justices turned away a petition from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/austin-knudsen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen<\/a>, a Republican, who argued the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-strikes-down-abortion-restrictions-in-indiana\/\" title=\"Judge Strikes Down ... Restrictions In Indiana\">parental consent law<\/a> was consistent with the U.S. Constitution&rsquo;s due process protections, which the high court has said include a &ldquo;fundamental right&rdquo; of parents to direct a child&rsquo;s medical care.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3462021\/desantis-veto-bill-budget-line-item\/\">DeSantis has vetoed nine bills, $590M in budget line items<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3461955\/explosion-california-fireworks-warehouse-july-fourth\/\">Seven missing after explosion at California fireworks warehouse upends Fourth of July celebrations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3461986\/high-schooler-free-speech-case-approved-federal-judge\/\">High schooler&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >free speech case settlement approved<\/a> by federal judge<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Montana&rsquo;s 2013 law <a href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/MT\/text\/HB521\/id\/826456\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">barred doctors from providing abortions<\/a> to minors without notarized written consent from a parent or legal guardian, with violations punishable by fines or jail time. A judicial bypass was available through the state&rsquo;s youth court system. The law had been blocked for years in litigation brought by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/planned-parenthood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Planned Parenthood<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/montana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montana Supreme Court<\/a>&nbsp;ruled in 2024 that the law violated the state&rsquo;s broad constitutional right to privacy, which has protected abortion access since a 1999 precedent. The court held that &ldquo;a minor&rsquo;s right to control her reproductive decisions is among the most fundamental of the rights she possesses.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Any parental right that exists within this framework,&rdquo; the court added, &ldquo;is a right to parent free from state interference, not a right to enlist the state&rsquo;s powers to gain greater control over a child or to make it more difficult for a minor to exercise their fundamental rights.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Knudsen&rsquo;s office urged the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that the state court ruling improperly elevated state-level rights of minors above federal constitutional protections afforded to parents.<\/p>\n<p>While the justices denied the petition,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/samuel-alito\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Samuel Alito<\/a>, joined by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Clarence Thomas<\/a>, issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/orders\/courtorders\/070325zr_bqmd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">statement<\/a> explaining that the high court&rsquo;s refusal was based on procedural grounds and not the merits of the question at issue, which is whether a parent&rsquo;s fundamental rights to know and participate in their child&rsquo;s medical case extends to a minor&rsquo;s decision to seek an abortion.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Because of the way this case was litigated below, it provides a poor vehicle for deciding that question,&rdquo; Alito wrote. He noted the state had not clearly argued in lower courts that the Montana Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision conflicted with federal parental rights. However, he warned, the court&rsquo;s denial should &ldquo;not be read &hellip; as a rejection of the argument that the petition asks us to decide.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Unlike many GOP-led states, Montana has retained broader access for abortion in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022 decision overturning <em>Roe v. Wade<\/em><\/a>. In 2024, voters approved a ballot measure by a 15-point margin to <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Montana_CI-128,_Right_to_Abortion_Initiative_(2024)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">enshrine abortion access<\/a> in the state constitution.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3442755\/supreme-court-new-jersey-pregnancy-clinic-discrimination-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>SUPREME COURT TAKES UP NEW JERSEY PREGNANCY CLINIC&rsquo;S DISCRIMINATION CASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The high court is already set to hear an abortion-adjacent dispute next term, this one involving a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">New Jersey<\/a> faith-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/crisis-pregnancy-centers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">pregnancy counseling center<\/a> fighting back against what it calls a politically motivated investigation by the state&rsquo;s Democratic attorney general, who claims the facility misled women about offering abortions.<\/p>\n<p>In its term that concluded last week, the Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3454930\/supreme-court-planned-parenthood-allows-states-block-medicaid-funds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">issued a ruling that allows states to block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood<\/a>, a decision that was seen as a major victory by anti-abortion groups and states that said the abortion provider had no right to sue against state orders disqualifying such providers from Medicaid reimbursements, even for non-abortion services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2159155\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2159155\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court rejects Montana&#8217;s underage abortion law appeal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2455201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supreme-court-abortion.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32546,8605,36292,32275,58361],"class_list":["post-2455200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-legal-decision","tag-montana","tag-reproductive-rights","tag-supreme-court","tag-underage-abortion"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supreme-court-abortion.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2455200"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2455204,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455200\/revisions\/2455204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2455201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2455200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2455200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2455200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}