Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 4, 2023 / 16:10 pm
A federal judge ordered Illinois to stop enforcing a law that restricts the speech of pro-life pregnancy centers while litigation over the constitutionality of the restrictions continues.
Judge Iain D. Johnston provided the pro-life pregnancy centers with temporary relief on Aug. 3 so they can freely advertise their services and speak to their clients freely. The order, which came one week after the law went into effect, does not settle the question of the constitutionality of the restrictions but will ensure their speech isn’t restricted as they await a final ruling.
Several pro-life pregnancy centers sued Attorney General Kwame Raoul over the law, which could result in fines of $50,000 for speech that the state determines is deceptive or misrepresents or omits information related to abortion.
“Free Speech won today in the Land of Lincoln — pro-life advocates across Illinois can breathe a sigh of relief they won’t be pursued for ‘misinformation’ by Attorney General Kwame Raoul,” Peter Breen, the executive vice president and head of litigation at the Thomas More Society, said in a statement.