TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A federal judge Thursday upheld a law requiring girls younger than 18 to get permission from a parent or judge before they have an abortion.

U.S. District Judge Raner Collins ruled that the law is constitutional. Abortion rights supporters had filed a lawsuit challenging it.

"This is great news for protecting the health of minor girls who are best served by the wisdom and concern of a parent," said Cathi Herrod, an attorney with The Center for Arizona Policy who was the primary author of the 1999 law.

Arizona's parental consent law requires written permission from a minor's parent or guardian for an abortion. Girls also can get approval from a Superior Court judge. No consent is necessary if there is a medical emergency or if the pregnancy resulted from a sexual assault.

Planned Parenthood intended to review the decision with its lawyers, organization vice president Beth Meyer said.

The law "will undoubtedly harm some of our state's young people," said the group's president and CEO, Brian S. Howard. It "will be most harmful to young women from dysfunctional families, households marked by abuse and neglect and that are sometimes families in name only."