By guest blogger Elizabeth
Oklevitch, Regent University Law School, Candidate for J.D., 2014.
Every year, many students arrive at Regent Law eager to earn their
degrees, get out in the real world, and champion the cause of the unborn. For Regent
alumnus, Noel
Sterett ‘06, defending life through the practice
of law is not a dream, but reality. This month he celebrated a significant victory
in a strenuous battle to protect unborn children, vulnerable teenage mothers,
and concerned parents in Illinois.
Noel Sterett |
The clash over Illinois’ Parental
Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 spanned nearly two
decades. Essentially, the Act requires parents be given 48-hours notice before a
minor daughter undergoes an abortion, unless a parent accompanies the daughter
or provides a written waiver, there is a medical emergency, the minor claims to
be the victim of abuse or neglect, or a judicial by-pass is granted. For those
committed to making abortion available to anyone, anytime, anywhere, this
precaution that aims to ensure the well-being of vulnerable teenagers is a no
can do. Six days after the Act’s enactment in 1995, its constitutionality was
challenged in court. On July 11, 2013, eighteen years later, the Supreme Court
of Illinois unanimously upheld the law as constitutional. (More information on the history of this Act
can be found within the decision).
Reporting on the court’s
decision on the day it was issued, the Christian Newswire
announced:
Despite this law's passage in 1995,
the court has not allowed the law to be enforced because of repeated lawsuits
by the American Civil Liberties Union. The Illinois Supreme Court has now
invalidated the ACLU's claims that the law violated the state constitution.
Mauck & Baker filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the
Hope Clinic for Women, Ltd., v. Flores case decided today.
The Court's opinion states: We
conclude, therefore, that our Parental Notice Act furthers a
"constitutionally permissible end" by encouraging an unmarried,
pregnant minor to seek the help and advice of a parent or other adult family
member in making the very important decision whether or not to bear a child.
The decision wording echoes that of
the amicus brief filed by Mauck & Baker attorneys on behalf of the
Christian Medical and Dental Associations, the American Association of Pro Life
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Catholic Medical Association.
The brief, authored by Richard C.
Baker, Amy Parrish, and Noel Sterett, argued that Illinois' Parental Notice Act
served the legitimate purpose of helping minors make mature and informed
decisions about whether to abort, allow parents to assist their daughter in
selecting a safe and competent abortion provider, ensure that parents have the
opportunity to provide additional medical history and information to assist abortion
providers, and ensures that parents have adequate knowledge to recognize and
respond to post-abortion complications.
Thus, in co-authoring an influential brief,
Noel Sterrett’s work has impacted the landscape of constitutional law in
Illinois, literally saved lives, and brought public recognition to the family
as an institution providing needed protection and guidance to children.
Students attending Regent
frequently hear, “Law is more than a profession – it’s a calling.” It is encouraging
to see a Regent alumnus walking out that calling, not merely holding it as a
dream, but successfully fighting for the defense of the vulnerable and the
restoration of the family.
To find out more about Noel’s firm,
Mauck & Baker, and their commitment to integrity, justice, and religious
liberty, visit www.mauckbaker.com.
Thank you for such a kind post. Soli deo Gloria!
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