In a significant win for free speech and pro-life advocates, U.S. District Judge John Sinatra has imposed a preliminary injunction on New York Attorney General Letitia James, limiting her ability to target pro-life pregnancy centers in the state. This decision comes after months of legal battles, sparked by James’ aggressive stance against pregnancy centers that promote Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) protocols.
The controversy began in April when AG James sent “Notice of Intention to Sue” letters to over a dozen pregnancy help organizations, threatening legal action for allegedly misleading women about the safety and efficacy of APR. These organizations, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), pushed back, filing a lawsuit to protect their right to inform women about APR—a treatment that some claim can reverse the effects of a chemical abortion.
James attempted to shift the lawsuit to a more favorable venue in Manhattan, but her efforts were thwarted by New York Supreme Court Justice Sam Valleriani, who consolidated the case in Monroe County, Rochester. The battle continued until Judge Sinatra’s recent ruling, which prohibits James from using state consumer fraud laws to silence the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), Gianna’s House, and Options Care Center.
The decision is seen as a crucial defense of the First Amendment, ensuring that pregnancy centers can continue to share information about APR without fear of prosecution. Judge Sinatra’s ruling highlighted the importance of free speech, particularly in matters of public interest and personal choice. In his order, he referenced George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, cautioning against allowing the state to become an “Oceania’s Ministry of Truth,” where only one narrative is permitted.
ADF Senior Counsel Caleb Dalton praised the decision, emphasizing that women in New York have the right to access information that could potentially save their unborn children. “Many women regret their abortions,” Dalton noted, “and some seek to stop the effects of abortion drugs before completing the process. The court’s ruling ensures that these women can learn about alternative options like APR.”
