Michelle Keller of Northern Kentucky was sworn in yesterday as the third woman on the Kentucky Supreme Court, a milestone receiving great attention. But not all women jurists are of the same opinion when it comes to one of the most controversial issues on the "woman" front, abortion.
In early 2011 the Court of Appeals was faced with deciding whether a teenager from another state could travel to Kentucky and obtain an abortion without her parent's knowledge. While the decison is reported to be sealed, the 2-1 ruling in favor of such a practice has been made public.
Voting in favor of the procedure was newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Michelle Keller. But highly critical of the ruling was then Judge Keller's colleague on the Court of Appeals, Judge Joy Moore.
Chief Judge Jeff Taylor of Owensboro and Judge Michelle Keller of Covington were in the majority and they admitted to the judge shopping that concerns McClusky.
But they said Kentucky’s law makes it so “every minor” gets the bypass and that the law does not place any limits on it to Kentucky residents only.
Judge Joy Moore of Burlington said Kentucky judges have no “business making any decisions regarding a minor from another state seeking an abortion without parental consent.”
She cited as her basis for rejecting the claims that Kentucky’s abortion laws say “it is in the interest of the people of the commonwealth that every precaution be taken to insure the protection of every viable unborn child being aborted.” [Life News]
Judges and Justices are expected to make their rulings based upon their interpretation of the law and not personal bias. But it is very clear that even when attempting to rise to that level of fairness differences of opinion do arise.
At this time no one has announced plans to challenge Keller when the seat to which she has just been appointed will appear on the ballot next year. The filing deadline isn't until January.
Comments