NY Attorney General Letitia James FAILS — Court Rejects Her Attempt to Move Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers Trial

A group of pro-life pregnancy centers, including Heartbeat International and CompassCare, filed a lawsuit last month against Letitia James, New York attorney general, after she threatened to prosecute them for offering women the chance to reverse abortions or promoting abortion reversals.

Thomas More Society, which represents the organizations, said the attorney general’s threats and intimidation violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments, the state Constitution, and state civil rights law.

The pro-life ministries offer or promote information about Abortion Pill Reversal (APR). James sent at least 12 of these centers a “Notice of Intention to Sue” for giving pregnant women information about saving their babies. From Thomas More Society:

James’ threat letter falsely accuses the targeted pregnancy help organizations of “repeated and persistent misleading statements and omissions.”

Not true, said Thomas More Society. Not only are the centers’ communications about APR truthful, the communications fall under the First Amendment’s protection.

Thomas More Society filed a lawsuit in upstate New York, where the pregnancy centers want the case heard. But James filed a lawsuit in May in New York County — which includes Manhattan. She wants the case heard there. Most of the centers are located in upstate New York.

Justice Sam Valleriani of the New York Supreme Court consolidated the cases that include the pro-life group and pregnancy centers James sued. Justice Valleriani rejected James’ attempt to move venue. The case will be heard in Rochester.

Thomas More Society calls this a first-round win.

“We look forward to defending Heartbeat International, CompassCare, and all of New York’s pregnancy help organizations targeted by James’ unconstitutional witch-hunt,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society Executive Vice President & Head of Litigation. “New Yorkers deserve to know that Abortion Pill Reversal is not just possible but safe and effective, and our clients have the right to share that truth with women who are undergoing a chemical abortion that they do not want to continue.”

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