US Supreme Court backs anti-abortion pregnancy centers in New Jersey case

>The question of whether the facilities acted deceptively was not before the Supreme Court. Rather, the case explored if First Choice has the legal basis to bring a constitutional challenge to the subpoena in federal court, or if ​it must continue litigating the matter in state court. This seems important

This is a procedural ruling, not a ruling on the merits.

Full article text: > WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court sided on Wednesday with the operator of Christian faith-based anti-abortion "crisis pregnancy centers" in New Jersey that is trying ​to impede a state investigation into whether the facilities engage in deceptive practices. > The justices, in a unanimous decision, revived a ‌federal lawsuit brought by First Choice Women's Resource Centers challenging a 2023 subpoena from the state attorney general seeking information on the organization's donors and doctors. A lower court had thrown out the lawsuit. > First Choice, which has five locations in New Jersey, had appealed the lower court's determination that its federal lawsuit ​challenging then-Democratic Attorney General Matthew Platkin's subpoena was premature in light of ongoing state court litigation over the matter. > The First Choice ​facilities seek to steer women away from having abortions. Platkin issued the subpoena as part of a ⁠state investigation into whether First Choice deceived donors and potential clients into falsely believing the facilities offered abortions and other reproductive healthcare ​services in violation of a state consumer-protection law and other statutes. > The subpoena sought First Choice's internal records, including the names of its doctors and ​donors. First Choice has said this caused some donors to reconsider giving to the group. > The question of whether the facilities acted deceptively was not before the Supreme Court. Rather, the case explored if First Choice has the legal basis to bring a constitutional challenge to the subpoena in federal court, or if ​it must continue litigating the matter in state court. > President Donald Trump's administration backed First Choice in the case. Days before its records were due to ​be handed over in 2023, First Choice sued Platkin in New Jersey federal court, arguing that the subpoena chilled its First Amendment rights to free ‌speech and ⁠free association. > The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, in 2022 overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide. > Following that decision, Platkin's office issued a consumer alert that warned the public that crisis pregnancy centers do not provide abortions and noted that such facilities "may also provide false or misleading information about abortion." > Crisis pregnancy centers provide services to pregnant women with the goal of dissuading ​them from having an abortion. Such ​centers often do not clearly ⁠advertise their anti-abortion stance, and abortion rights advocates have called them deceptive. > First Choice was represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that has brought other cases on behalf of anti-abortion plaintiffs. > After First ​Choice's federal lawsuit, Platkin sought to enforce the subpoena in state court. A state judge in ​2024 declined First ⁠Choice's request to quash the subpoena for the time being, ordering the parties to negotiate a narrower subpoena. The judge said that the constitutional issues could be litigated going forward. > In the federal case, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp dismissed First Choice's complaint, finding that its federal claims were premature ⁠because it ​could continue to make its constitutional claims in the state court and did ​not face any immediate threat of being held in contempt. > The Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision in 2024 upheld Shipp's ruling, prompting First Choice ​to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in December. Edited to Add: [Link to the Supreme Court document](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-781_pok0.pdf)

If you read the opinion, the State of New Jersey admitted there were no complaints against First Choice, and that the state issues a subpoena for all First Choice's donors because First Choice published a pamphlet *with* infants on it which the State claimed could have misled people to thinking the facility offered abortions. Yeah, pure fishing expedition and attempt to scare off donors based on their political opinion. There's a reason this was unanimous.

We know we can count on scotus to kiss trump's ass & to c*** on the constitution.

So they have effectively legalized medical fraud. This will be expanded and reused to protect con men in multiple industries. Yet another SCOTUS vote against the people of this country.

Of course they do. Lying to people in crisis to take advantage of them is fine as long as you're lying for Republican Jesus.

Wait we need more kids? Not, ever, dont abuse the kids, don't have them, this world is currently unacceptable.

I believe it’s time the states ignore the federal govt.

[deleted]

[deleted]

Timothy Dolan retired to a mansion on Fifth Avenue adjacent to St. Patrick's Cathedral. How do you expect him to pay for his Netflix subscription if Catholics aren't producing more children so bishops can profit from their private schools and hospitals?

Please stop linking Reuters.