[cb88]

Whole story: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/03/ab....ap/index.html

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) -- A judge ruled that a 13-year-old girl at the center of an abortion fight with the state may terminate her pregnancy, and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the state will not appeal further.

Juvenile Judge Ronald Alvarez ruled Monday that the teen, who has been in state custody for four years, would not be physically or emotionally harmed by the procedure. Last week, Alvarez blocked the girl's abortion until a psychological evaluation was completed.

"He ruled that she is competent, that she has made a decision and that she has a right to act on that decision," said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the girl.

It was unclear Tuesday whether the girl, 14 weeks pregnant and known only as L.G. in court papers, had yet undergone an abortion. Calls to the girl's attorneys seeking an update were not immediately returned.

State Department of Children & Families spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz said the agency would "respectfully comply with the court's decision." She declined to provide further details.

"We are working for the best interest of the young girl," Munoz said.

The teen became pregnant after running away from the DCF shelter where she lives.

God help us all.