Federal judge sides with pro-life pregnancy centers, finds part of Illinois abortion law unconstitutional

GenerateKeyTakeaways AfederaljudgeinIllinoishasissuedasplitrulinginacaseagainstastateabortionlaw,findingpartofthelawviolatestheconstitutionalrighttofreespeechbycompellingmedicalprofessionalswhodonotbelieveinabortiontodiscussitsbenefits. U.S.DistrictCourtJudgeIainD.JohnstononFridayfoundpartoftheIllinoisHealthCareRightofConscienceActunconstitutionalinacasebroughtbytheNationalInstituteofFamilyandLifeAdvocatesandthreepro-lifepregnancycenters. “TheCourtconcludesthatPublicAct99-690Section6.1(1),inexchangeforaliabilityshield,compelsspeech,requiringadiscussionabouttherisksandbenefitsofchildbirthandabortion.ThatcompelleddiscussionviolatestheFirstAmendment,”Johnstonsaidintheruling. Johnston,however,ruledanothersectionofthelawinquestionconstitutional.Thatpartofthelawrequiresmedicalproviders,ifapatientasks,toeitherreferortransferpatients,orgivewritteninformationaboutwhichotherprovidersmay