(Washington, D.C.): Today, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin on the issue of whether First Choice has the right to first challenge a subpoena in federal court served by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
First Choice’s counsel has characterized Platkin’s investigation as “unconstitutional,” citing the subpoena’s effective “chilling” of the organization’s First Amendment protections. The subpoena, if left unchallenged, would require First Choice to surrender a decade of internal, confidential documents, often identifying donors by name. First Choice notes the burden of responding to the subpoena would require their staff to divert their efforts of providing women and families with free ultrasounds, parenting classes, material support and more.
John Mize, CEO of Americans United for Life, stated, “AUL stands with First Choice, asking the Court to uphold the right of the pregnancy center to challenge this overreaching and burdensome subpoena in federal court. Pregnancy centers are essential to filling gaps in maternal and familial health care and should not be targeted for their life-affirming approach. We are hopeful the Court will agree.”
Carolyn McDonnell, Litigation Counsel for AUL, added, “The lower federal courts used a procedural loophole to avoid hearing the case, even though a civil rights law guarantees a federal forum for First Amendment lawsuits. We urge the Court to reverse and recognize First Choice’s fundamental rights to speak and associate to further its pro-life mission of serving women and families.”
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.
