(Washington, D.C.): Today, Americans United for Life submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin, supporting the right of pro-life pregnancy resource centers to provide life-affirming help and care to women seeking abortion without government harassment.
Defending Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers in New Jersey
First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a chain of pro-life pregnancy centers based in New Jersey, was subpoenaed under unsubstantiated claims of deceiving and defrauding citizens of the state, including donors. The subpoena demanded the names of First Choice’s donors, from major financial contributors to individuals supporting the organization through its church baby-bottle campaigns.
It burdened First Choice’s operations by forcing staff to devote their work hours answering the subpoena’s demands instead of serving pregnant women and their families. The compelled disclosure fundamentally chilled First Choice’s First Amendment rights of speech and association, dissuading current and future donors from supporting the small non-profit because their names would be handed over to a pro-abortion attorney general.
Americans United for Life argues that the Third Circuit wrongfully relegated the lawsuit to state court based on judicially-contrived considerations about the timing of the case. The Third Circuit relied on these faulty considerations to circumvent Supreme Court caselaw and abstain from redressing the explicit violations of First Choice’s First Amendment rights.
Carolyn McDonnell, Litigation Counsel at Americans United for Life, stated, “The Third Circuit erroneously relied on judge-made reasons, not constitutional ones, as to why it dismissed the federal lawsuit to let the state court hear the case first. Yet the subpoena is clearly unconstitutional under Supreme Court precedent; it chilled First Choice’s fundamental rights to speak and associate to further its pro-life mission to serve pregnant women and their families.”
Steven H. Aden, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel at Americans United for Life, emphasized, “This case is the culmination of decades of attacks against life-affirming pregnancy centers by abortion activists. We will continue to stand behind First Choice Women’s Resource Centers to ensure the protection of First Amendment rights not only for pregnancy centers across the nation but also for the rights of all Americans.”
Rebekah Gantner, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager at Americans United for Life, stated, “AUL is privileged to support pregnancy center staff, volunteers, and supporters. Nearly 3,000 centers across the country provide essential services—from pregnancy tests and material support to housing assistance and educational classes. These centers make a life-changing impact in their communities. AUL will continue our efforts to protect these centers and their critical mission from governmental overreach.”
For more information or to arrange an interview with AUL, contact Gavin Oxley at press@aul.org or 202-987-3321.
Since 1971, Americans United for Life (AUL) has advanced the human right to life in culture, law, and policy by equipping advocates and lawmakers with the facts and strategies that change hearts and minds and protect human life. The first national pro-life organization in the country, AUL is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
