January 1, Pro-Life Center Battles State Pressure at Supreme Court

Wyatt’s Take

• First Choice fights for free speech as New Jersey turns up the heat.
• If New Jersey succeeds, pregnancy centers everywhere could be at risk.
• The Supreme Court will soon decide if states can silence pro-life voices.

First Choice Women’s Resource Centers is standing up to New Jersey’s aggressive investigations. Their fight could set the tone for how all pregnancy centers are treated in America.

“It’s our hope that our efforts will result in protection for pregnancy centers across the nation.”

Executive Director Aimee Huber said during a Thursday press conference.

New Jersey claims First Choice misled clients, but Huber says they’re being targeted just for not providing or referring for abortions. State officials demanded years’ worth of private data, including donor information.

First Choice called this unconstitutional and challenged it in federal court, but lower courts tossed out their case.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear it. The big issue is whether a group can go to federal court to defend their rights when a state tries to force hand over sensitive information.

Lincoln Wilson from Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing First Choice, criticized the state’s treatment of the center.

“Overt hostility,” he said.

He pointed to a 2022 consumer alert from the state that he says was meant to scare off their supporters.

“This is exactly the sort of thing where it’s properly read and understood as an attempt for him to harass and persecute First Choice for its protected speech and get its donors to stop supporting it.”

Wilson said.

Wilson said this state pressure is the sort of rights violation the Supreme Court has warned against, pointing to the Americans for Prosperity v. Bonta case that protected donor privacy in 2021.

“We think the same thing is going on here with the New Jersey attorney general’s subpoena and his attempt to get that information from First Choice, and we have a right to address those grievances and claims in federal court,” Wilson said.

“That’s an issue that matters not just to First Choice; it matters to pregnancy centers around the country.”

A First Choice client named Meera shared how the center helped her through tough times as a mother.

“First Choice is just my guiding light. It saved me … when I really needed them.”

Meera said.

Wilson predicted that if the Supreme Court sides with First Choice, the case would go back to lower courts to look at the real constitutional issues.

“The main focus is just our right to be heard.”

Wilson stressed.

Arguments start December 2, and the outcome could affect pro-life voices across the nation.

Wyatt Matters

Everyday folks in the heartland know how important it is to stand up for free speech and the right to help families. This case is a test of whether the government can bully people just for having a different view.

Read more at The Federalist