The U.S. Supreme Court will review whether anti-abortion clinics in New Jersey can challenge a state subpoena in federal court on First Amendment grounds.
The case centers on First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, which is under investigation by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. The state issued a subpoena seeking donor records as part of a probe into misrepresentation of services and possible fraud.
Lower courts ruled the clinics’ free speech claims were not ready for federal court and should be handled by state judges. The clinic is arguing that position denies them federal judicial review altogether.
A state court has enforced the subpoena, but no records have been turned over while the legal dispute plays out. Platkin’s office agreed to pause enforcement pending higher court decision.
First Choice is backed by Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, and supported in the case by several right-leaning organizations. Attoerneys for the organization describe First Choice as a “faith-based, pro-life pregnancy center.”
Arguments are expected in the court’s next term starting in October.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.