Ever ask yourself why some Supreme Court cases fail to ignite before they even reach the hearing stage? On July 3, 2025, the justices slipped past a Montana measure mandating parental approval for teenagers who want abortions a development that had legal observers abuzz,

The move disappointed abortion opponents. But two of the court's conservative justices - Alito and Thomas - said it may take up the issue in the future.

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to take up a dispute over a Montana law that would have required notarized parental consent for a minor to receive an abortion. State lawmakers have argued that parents have a constitutional right to make decisions concerning the care, custody and control of their children.