Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Calif. Ban on Sex by Minors Upheld > SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- While acknowledging that many > teens are sexually active, a state appeals court has > ruled that minors do not have a constitutional right to > have sex. > > The 1st District Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a > state law making it a crime for minors to have sex with > each other doesn't violate their right to privacy. > > ``There are freedoms which adults enjoy which are > beyond those afforded minors, primarily because of age > and maturity,'' Justice Ignazio Ruvolo wrote in the 3-0 > ruling. > > ``While they may have the ability to respond to > nature's call to exercise the gift of physical love, > juveniles may yet be unable to accept the attendant > obligations and responsibilities,'' the court said. > > A 16-year-old boy, arrested for having sex with a > 14-year-old girl in 1996, had challenged the state's > statutory rape law, claiming his constitutional right > to privacy had been violated. > > The girl was charged with a misdemeanor and the boy was > placed on probation. > > Lawyers for the boy argued that the right to engage in > consensual sexual conduct is part of the fundamental > privacy rights of minors as well as adults. > > The teen's lawyers also argued that the ruling could > discourage other teen-agers from obtaining > contraception since they could be inviting criminal > investigation. -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
