Illinois AG backs down crackdown on pro-life pregnancy centers

Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul of Illinois announced Monday that he filed a motion agreeing not to enforce a state law targeting pregnancy centers for using alleged “deceptive acts” to steer women away from abortions.

the law, Senate Bill of 1909was signed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in July and would fine pro-life pregnancy centers $50,000 for using alleged “deceptive acts or practices” to prevent women from accessing abortion or “inducing” a woman to use the pregnancy center services. Raoul, however, announced this week that his office had filed an injunction that would block the law from being implemented after a district court judge governed in August that the law was “stupid” and “probably unconstitutional.”

“As filed, this proposed order is accepted by the parties in this case and in no way affects my ongoing work to protect women's rights to access the full range of reproductive health services,” wrote Raoul. “Furthermore, this proposed order does not alter the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act or my office's pre-existing authority under the law, and I remain committed to protecting consumers against all deceptive practices “.

The National Institute of Family and Life Lawyers filed a lawsuit against the state on July 27, the same day the law was signed, seconds to the Thomas More Society (TMS), which represents NIFLA in the case. Judge Iain Johnston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a temporary injunction in August preventing the law from taking effect, saying it was highly likely to violate the constitution. seconds on WTTW, a local media outlet.

TMS applauded the Attorney General's decision in a Press release On Monday, he said the “victory” was a “significant victory for pro-life ministries.”

“The federal court was correct in declaring that SB 1909 is 'both stupid and very likely unconstitutional,'” said Peter Breen, executive vice president and senior counsel for the Thomas More Society. “SB 1909 exempts abortion facilities and their speech, while exclusively regulating pro-life organizations and their speech, in flagrant violation of the First Amendment. This law is just one of a series of new laws illegal laws enacted across the country that restrict pro-life speech, we hope this permanent injunction, with full attorney's fees, will serve as a warning to other states that will try to follow Illinois and try to silence viewpoints pro-life”.

The AG's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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