A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that bars New York Attorney General Letitia James from taking action against pregnancy clinics, citing a violation of free speech rights. The judge, a Trump appointee, ruled that the plaintiffs have standing and granted the preliminary injunction based on the First Amendment Free Speech claim. This injunction prevents James and her associates from enforcing consumer fraud laws against certain pregnancy clinics for promoting the abortion pill reversal procedure. The ruling only applies to the named plaintiffs represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), pending the disposition of the case.
James had sued several pregnancy clinics for promoting the abortion pill reversal procedure, accusing them of engaging in fraud, deceptive practices, and false advertising. The clinics claimed that those who change their minds after taking the first pill in a medicinal abortion can continue the pregnancy by not taking the second pill and instead using progesterone. However, the safety and efficacy of this procedure are disputed by medical experts. The judge’s ruling supports the pregnancy centers’ freedom to share information about this procedure as a life-saving option, according to ADF Senior Counsel Caleb Dalton.
The lawsuit against James alleged that she wrongfully targeted the pregnancy clinics because of their viewpoints on the abortion pill reversal procedure. It has been a contentious issue in various states, including Colorado, where a similar legal battle led to an injunction against banning the medication. In that case, a Trump-appointed judge ruled that banning the medication likely violated the U.S. Constitution, using religious freedom as justification. The New York Attorney General’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the ruling.
The preliminary injunction prevents James from enforcing consumer fraud laws against specific pregnancy clinics that promote the abortion pill reversal procedure. The ruling is considered a significant victory for the plaintiffs represented by ADF, as it protects their free speech rights and prevents legal action against them for discussing and promoting the procedure. The injunction will remain in place until the case is resolved, and it only applies to the named plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit.
The judge’s decision to grant the preliminary injunction was based on the plaintiffs’ standing and their First Amendment Free Speech claim. The ruling prevents James and her associates from taking legal action against the pregnancy clinics for discussing and promoting the abortion pill reversal procedure. The contentious issue of the procedure’s safety and efficacy continues to be debated among medical experts, but the judge’s ruling supports the clinics’ right to share information about it as a potential life-saving option. The lawsuit against James alleged that she targeted the clinics for their viewpoints on the procedure, mirroring similar legal battles in other states.
