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Missouri Supreme Court upholds abortion law

By AP/KWMU

Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld a law that lets parents sue people who help their minor daughters get abortions.

The 2005 state law allows lawsuits against those who "intentionally cause, aid, or assist" a minor in getting an abortion without parental consent or a court order.

Planned Parenthood had argued that the words "aid" and "assist" could unconstitutionally infringe on their free speech rights to provide information and counseling about abortions.

But Tuesday's unanimous Supreme Court decision adopted a more narrow interpretation. The court said the law does not cover speech.

Supreme Court judges also rejected Planned Parenthood's other constitutional challenges to the law.

Attorney General Jay Nixon's office says the law took effect immediately as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling.

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