“Defending Parental Consent” with Judge David Engler

“There is a structural conflict within the Ohio Constitution between the abortion amendment passed in November 2023 (Article I, Section 22) and the judicial authority granted under Article IV. While juvenile court judges have historically held the core function of determining if parental consent is necessary for a minor’s abortion, the 2023 amendment eliminates all parental involvement; consequently, a minor in Ohio now needs parental consent for a tattoo, but not for an abortion. My lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to enjoin the amendment and return the language to the ballot commission to be redrafted, clearly informing voters whether they intended to strip away parental rights and long-standing judicial authority.”