A federal judge granted plaintiffs a preliminary injunction against New York Attorney General Letitia James, prohibiting her from taking action against pregnancy clinics on the grounds that such actions could infringe on free speech rights.
“In sum, on this record, Plaintiffs have standing,” Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., a Trump appointee, wrote, according to Fox News. “No abstention doctrine applies. And no other prudential, discretionary or equitable obstacle to such relief exists. Based on a careful application of the preliminary injunction factors, especially as they relate to Plaintiffs’ First Amendment Free Speech claim, motion for a preliminary injunction is granted.”
The judge ordered that James “in her official capacity, as well as her officers, agents, employees, attorneys and all persons in active concert or participation with her” are enjoined from enforcing consumer fraud laws against the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates; Gianna’s House, Inc.; and Choose Life of Jamestown Inc. for discussing and promoting the abortion pill reversal procedure, the outlet reported.
James had filed a lawsuit against Heartbeat International and 11 centers that promoted abortion pill reversal procedures, alleging fraud, deceptive business practices, and false advertising. She contended that these groups were “spreading dangerous misinformation” by advertising treatments without “medical and scientific proof.”
Medicinal abortion typically involves taking mifepristone followed by misoprostol days later. However, some pregnancy clinics have advised that individuals who change their minds and wish to continue the pregnancy can forgo the second drug and instead use progesterone. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that the safety and efficacy of this approach remain unsupported.
The injunction will remain in place pending the case’s resolution, according to Sinatra’s order. The order only applies to the named plaintiffs, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which celebrated the ruling as a significant victory. “The court was right to affirm the pregnancy centers’ freedom to tell interested women about this life-saving treatment option,” ADF Senior Counsel Caleb Dalton said in a statement posted on the ADF website. Dalton also argued the case before the court on behalf of the plaintiffs, Fox noted.
The lawsuit alleged that James was unfairly targeting the groups due to their viewpoints, particularly regarding the contentious abortion pill reversal procedure. Colorado faced a similar legal struggle over this issue, which also resulted in an injunction. “U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico, another Trump appointee, agreed that banning the medication likely violated the U.S. Constitution. Though, in that case, he leaned on the guarantee of religious freedom as justification,” Fox reported.