Mo. Court Upholds 24-Hour Abortion Wait
By DAVID A. LIEB
ASSOCIATED PRESS

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the state's 24-hour waiting period for abortions, a decision that turns the focus of the legal battle to federal court.

The unanimous ruling Tuesday by Missouri's highest court focused on whether the 2003 law ran contrary to the state constitution. The judges rejected arguments that it was overly vague and deprived people of liberty and privacy rights.

"It's a victory for the women of Missouri who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy but need the information and time to consider what's best for them," said Patty Skain, executive director of Missouri Right to Life.

Although considered a victory for anti-abortion groups, the ruling may not be the end of the matter. That's because Planned Parenthood affiliates, which filed the state case, also have challenged the law in federal court. The rest