A Christian pro-life pregnancy resource center in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the state’s attorney general, claiming it was “selectively targeted” for its pro-life views.
According to Catholic Vote, the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed the lawsuit on December 13 against abortion-supporting AG Matthew Platkin on behalf of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers. Platkin, said ADF, requested an “unreasonable and improper subpoena” from First Choice “under the pretense of conducting a civil investigation into possible violations” of New Jersey laws.
ADF attorneys explained that Platkin sought the advice and assistance of Planned Parenthood to draft his office’s consumer alert warning to New Jerseyans about pregnancy centers. He opened a civil investigation into First Choice for allegedly violating the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The lawsuit alleges that the “burdensome” subpoena “requires the organization to expend its limited resources to produce extensive documentation or face judicial sanctions.” Platkin is demanding 10 years of documentation from the pregnancy center to prove it has not violated any laws.
READ: Following pro-life lawsuit, Illinois backs away from harassing pregnancy centers
However, ADF notes, “AG Platkin has never cited any complaint or other substantive evidence of wrongdoing to justify his demands but has launched an exploratory probe into the lawful activities, constitutionally protected speech, religious observance, constitutionally protected associations, and nonpublic internal communications and records of a non-profit organization that holds a view with which he disagrees as a matter of public policy.“
ADF Senior Counsel Lincoln Wilson said, “It’s unlawful for New Jersey’s attorney general to use the authority of his office to harm those with whom he disagrees. Attorney General Platkin has aligned himself with Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion mission and even enlisted its help to target pro-life pregnancy centers like our client First Choice.”
Pro-life PRCs like First Choice provide women with assistance when they face challenges during pregnancy. First Choice offers no-cost pregnancy services including pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. The centers provide counseling, certain medical services, and practical support such as baby clothing and other related items. Launched in 1985, First Choice Women’s Resource Centers is a non-profit that has served over 36,000 women in unplanned pregnancies over its 38 years in existence.
One woman who received services there, Umayma, shared that she was pressured to have an abortion by her family. In college and scared, she went to First Choice on the recommendation of a friend. Umayma had an ultrasound and she was able to hear her son’s heartbeat for the first time. She said, “First Choice is the reason I kept my baby.” Her family has since apologized for telling her to have an abortion. The help she received from First Choice reportedly influenced her to work in the field of social services to help other young mothers, whom she refers to First Choice.
