Justices Hear Arguments In Pa. Abortion-Law Case

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week in the closely-watched challenge to a Pennsylvania law placing restrictions on abortion, including the requirement that minors obtain the "informed consent'' of one parent or a judge's permission before ending their pregnancy.

The consent provision was not specifically discussed during the hour-long argument on April 22 in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (Case No. 91-744).

Kathryn Kolbert, the lawyer for the clinics and doctors who challenged the law, told the Justices that the restrictions are incompatible with the High Court's prior decision in the case Roe v. Wade that women have a fundamental right...