By Barb Umberger| The Catholic Spirit
A group of mothers filed a motion to intervene in Ramsey County District Court Sept. 12, two months after a judge ruled July 13 that six laws regulating abortion in Minnesota were unconstitutional under the state constitution. The laws struck down included a 24-hour waiting period and requirements affecting minors, including parental notification for abortion-seeking girls under age 18.
Teresa Collett, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas’ Minneapolis campus, serves as lead counsel to “Mothers Offering Maternal Support,” a group of about 50 mothers of at least one minor daughter who filed a motion Sept. 12 to intervene in Dr. Jane Doe, et al. v. State of Minnesota.
She said she found it “astounding” that in three years of litigation, Attorney General Keith Ellison failed to consider a fact known to every parent of a teenager: They often make risky decisions and are susceptible to stress and pressure.
MOMS held a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol Sept. 13, where Collett and three members of MOMS spoke. Renee Carlson, general counsel for Minneapolis-based True North Legal, which supports the MOMS group’s effort, emceed the news conference.
“We are optimistic that the district court judge will, in fact, allow us to enter the case, reopen the judgment and allow us to defend these laws that the attorney general failed to defend,” Collett said.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference and other pro-life groups support MOMS’ efforts, said Jason Adkins, MCC’s executive director and general counsel. A decision on the motion is expected relatively soon, he said.
Mothers who have at least one minor daughter and are interested in becoming involved with the MOMS group can email momsofmn@protonmail.com.