Court - Ads for adoptions not needed

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida court struck down a law Wednesday that required mothers who want to give a child up for adoption to publicize their sexual histories in newspaper ads.

The state's lawyers had refused to defend the law, which was heavily criticized because it required mothers, including rape victims and underage girls, to widely publish potentially embarrassing information.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal said the law violates privacy rights and substantially interferes with a woman's ability to choose adoption.

The court also said the state failed to show how the rights of the father or the state could outweigh privacy rights.