Florida Judge Rules That Baby Should Live.

Florida Circuit Judge Lawrence R. Kirkwood has adopted the recommendations of the guardian of a pregnant mentally retarded woman who had been raped that her baby be carried to term. Patti Jarrell was appointed in May to be the guardian for the woman identified only as "J.D.S." when Judge Kirkwood declared J.D.S. incompetent to make decisions on her own behalf.

Jarrell told the court that J.D.S. had been examined by doctors on June 5 and June 12 and both declared that "there was no medical reason to terminate the pregnancy," the Miami Herald reported. Jarrell told the judge that the young woman was in good health and that her pregnancy (best guesses are she was in her seventh month) was "quite unremarkable."

Jarrell concluded, "It is the guardian's belief that completing the pregnancy/delivering the child is in J.D.S.' best interest, and that therefore, unless otherwise directed by the court, the guardian intends to perform her duties under the assumption that J.D.S. will complete her pregnancy.''

According to the Orlando Sentinel, "Jarrell could have elected to request an abortion if she thought J.D.S.' health or life was at risk." (The quest for a separate guardian for the baby goes on.) Jarrell has also said, "two sonograms indicate no obvious abnormalities with the fetus."

Frank Nisi is Jarrell's lawyer. He told the Sentinel that J.D.S. "is doing well and the baby is doing well, too." Nisi added, "A lot of people prayed for her, and the prayers appear to be answered."

Various accounts have painted the worst possible picture of the young woman's capabilities. But Jarrell told the Sentinel that J.D.S. "is more functional than she had expected."

"She's a beautiful girl and she does have potential," Jarrell said. "She just needs somebody to work with her. I expected to find a totally different young woman than what I found when I initially visited with her."