Injunction Lodged Against Suing Crisis Pregnancy Centers

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction against a new state law allowing Illinoisans to sue crisis pregnancy centers under the state's Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act. 

Judge Iain Johnston says the new law violates the First Amendment. 

The law expands Illinois' consumer fraud law to include crisis pregnancy centers. Under the law, up to $50,000 in civil penalties can be awarded for each act of fraud or deception.

The crisis pregnancy centers, however, claim that threat of litigation is an attack on their First Amendment rights to operate their facilities as they see fit.

Local State Representative Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville said of the ruling, "The judicial stay granted in the National Institute of Family Life Advocates et al. v. Raoul case is a major step toward preserving the Constitutional rights of pro-life activists not just in Illinois but across the country. The idea that crisis pregnancy centers can be shut down simply because the people in charge of our state do not like their point of view is absurd,  but more importantly, it is dangerous. 

The people working at these centers are mostly women and are there on a voluntary basis. They receive no state money and the women who walk into these centers are there of their own free will. These centers are upfront about being pro-life. They are upfront about their desire to help women choose life rather than abortion. There is nothing deceptive about the work being done at these centers. In fact, Attorney General Kwame Raoul could not cite one example of any crisis pregnancy center being accused of deceptive practices. This law is a radical attack on the free speech rights of everyday citizens and hopefully the actions taken Friday are the first steps toward overturning this outrageous law.”

State Representative Adam Niemerg of Dieterich said of the ruling, "I even asked the Attorney General who was on the House Floor to explain why he is pushing legislation that based on information provided by his own office is completely unnecessary. He, of course, did not answer my questions. The truth is that this new law is not about deceptive practices. It is about using the power of government to target people who do not share the radical leftist views of our state’s leaders. It is a dark and dangerous bill that will completely change not just Illinois but the entire country if it is allowed to stand because if this new law is not struck down, we will no longer have the freedom of speech in this country. This law will be used to silence any dissent from the woke mob. I am glad the judge stayed this legislation. The next step is to overturn this law completely and reaffirm the freedom of speech guaranteed to us in the Constitution.”