The US Supreme Court has agreed to review a case involving a New Jersey anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center’s challenge against the state attorney general’s investigation into potential deception of women seeking abortions. The Christian faith-based organization, First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, is contesting a lower court’s ruling that it must address the attorney general’s subpoena in state court before pursuing a federal lawsuit. Crisis pregnancy centers aim to dissuade women from obtaining abortions, often without explicitly disclosing their anti-abortion stance, leading to criticism from abortion rights advocates who deem them deceptive. First Choice argues that its federal rights to free speech and association under the US Constitution are at stake, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom legal group.

The attorney general, Matthew Platkin, asserts the need to ensure nonprofits do not mislead residents, citing First Choice’s refusal to address concerns about potential misrepresentations regarding reproductive healthcare. Platkin emphasizes that First Choice seeks special treatment by avoiding compliance with a lawful state subpoena. The legal battle began in 2023 when the attorney general issued a subpoena seeking internal records from First Choice, leading to a federal case that was ultimately dismissed by the US District Judge Michael Shipp and upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. First Choice contends that litigating in state court denies them their federal forum to assert constitutional rights, highlighting the broader implications of this case for civil rights law.

Beyond New Jersey, crisis pregnancy centers have faced legal scrutiny, with the New York attorney general suing centers for promoting unproven abortion pill reversal treatments. The ongoing legal landscape surrounding crisis pregnancy centers underscores the complex intersection of reproductive rights, free speech, and regulatory oversight.