A federal court ruled that a new Illinois law that reportedly targets crisis pregnancy clinics violates the First Amendment and therefore must be prohibited.
Despite raising concerns that it would be used to target pro-life centers that suggest an association between abortion and breast cancer or infertility, the bill that Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) signed into law last week permits the state’s attorney general to investigate a case of alleged consumer fraud against crisis pregnancy centers accused of deceptive practices.
“The bill is painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Amendment,” U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston noted.
“There’s no doubt who the Attorney General wants to win or lose in the market place of ideas, but the government doesn’t get to decide that. The people do.” he continued.
The Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm that advocates for the protection of free speech and religious liberty, filed a lawsuit against the statute almost immediately after it was passed.
The Pro-Life Action League, Rockford Family Initiative, Relevant Pregnancy Options Center, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, and Women’s Pregnancy Services all filed the lawsuit on their behalf.
According to Pritzker, he thinks the bill will eventually go into force and prevent women in the state from getting alleged “misinformation.”
A similar statute targeting pro-life pregnancy clinics was implemented in Vermont; this law is also being contested in court.
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