(1) An appeal to the Supreme Court shall be available to any pregnant woman for whom a court denies an order authorizing an abortion without consent. An order authorizing an abortion without consent shall not be subject to appeal.

Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 71-6904

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Attorney: shall mean attorney at law. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: shall include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • State: when applied to different states of the United States shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories organized by Congress. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

(2) An adverse ruling by the court may be appealed to the Supreme Court.

(3) A pregnant woman may file a notice of appeal of any final order to the Supreme Court. The State Court Administrator shall develop the form for notice of appeal and accompanying instructions on the procedure for an appeal. A sufficient number of forms for notice of appeal and instructions shall be made available in each courthouse in such place that members of the general public can obtain a form and instructions without requesting such form and instructions from the clerk of the court or other court personnel.

(4) The clerk of the court shall cause the court transcript and bill of exceptions to be filed with the Supreme Court within four business days, but in no event later than seven calendar days, from the date of the filing of the notice of appeal.

(5) In all appeals under this section the pregnant woman shall have the right of a confidential and expedited appeal and the right to counsel at the appellate level if not already represented. Such counsel shall be appointed by the court and shall receive a fee to be fixed by the court and to be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the proceeding was held. The pregnant woman shall not be required to appear.

(6) The Supreme Court shall hear the appeal de novo on the record and issue a written decision which shall be provided immediately to the pregnant woman, the pregnant woman’s guardian ad litem, the pregnant woman’s attorney, or any other person designated by the pregnant woman to receive the order.

(7) The Supreme Court shall rule within seven calendar days from the time of the docketing of the appeal in the Supreme Court.

(8) The Supreme Court shall adopt and promulgate rules to ensure that proceedings under this section are handled in a confidential and expeditious manner.