Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of Thomas More Society, will be available for comment after the federal court hearing

Contact: Tom Brejcha, Esq., Chief Counsel, Thomas More Society, 312-782-1680, 312-590-3408 cell; Thomas Ciesielka, TC Public Relations, 312-422-1333, 312-403-1333 cell

CHICAGO, Jan. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Wednesday, January 14, the Chicago-based Thomas More Society (TMS - www.thomasmoresociety.org) will argue before the Federal Seventh Circuit, along with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Solicitor General, to defend Illinois' long waning Parental Notice Law for Abortions. At issue is whether the federal injunction against enforcement of the Illinois Parental Notice Law of 1995 should be continued in effect, given that the Illinois Supreme Court issued rules for confidential hearings and appeals by minors, who are in a trial judge's view, mature and informed enough to make their own decision whether to end a pregnancy or whose family circumstances (e.g. incest) make it perilous that such parental notice be given. It was for lack of such rules -- which the Illinois Supreme Court, with different membership, had refused to issue back in the 1990s -- that the federal court had originally barred enforcement of the parental notice law.

Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of Thomas More Society, said, "We are anxious to press this appeal because we believe that the enforcement of this law, enacted well over a decade ago, is very overdue and should be delayed no longer. Polls show that up to 80 percent of Illinois citizens support parental notice for abortion, which is serious invasive surgery, and indeed parental consent is required by law before school nurses may even administer aspirin to minor students. Illinois is the only Midwestern state where parental notice is not required and child predators routinely bring minors from other states here for abortions without their parents' knowledge, let alone consent. It's high time this anomalous, flagrant injustice was brought to an end."

Contacts for the Media
Tom Brejcha, Esq., Chief Counsel, Thomas More Society: 312-590-3408 cell, 312-782-1680
Thomas Ciesielka, TC Public Relations: 312-422-1333, cell 312-403-1333