Illinois Supreme Court Ends Challenges To Abortion Law

A lengthy legal battle over an abortion notification law appears to be ending, clearing the way for Illinois to begin enforcing a 1995 measure requiring doctors to notify a girl's parents before she undergoes the procedure.

Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court ruling says the case shouldn't be reconsidered and has to be enforced unless there's an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The law requires doctors to notify a girl's parents 48 hours before an abortion, unless she gets permission from a judge. It applies to girls 17 and younger.

The 1995 law was never enforced because of legal challenges. The ACLU sued, saying young women were capable of making medical decisions.

But anti-abortion activists argued parents were being denied basic rights if their children got abortions without their knowledge.