How a Florida court took unusual steps to limit abortion access for minors

TALLAHASSEE — A Florida appeals court took an unusual legal step when it last month struck down as unconstitutional a law allowing minors to get abortions without parental consent.

Florida youth have for decades been able to petition a judge for permission to have an abortion without their parents’ knowledge.

This May, a pregnant 17-year-old initiated one of those cases. When a lower court judge denied her the waiver for an abortion, she appealed.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal took up the appeal. But instead of focusing solely on the teen’s case, the court used it to weigh major constitutional questions — a move that one judge acknowledged is rare.

The court’s decision effectively stops most minors from being able to have abortions unless their parent gives consent, further restr