Posted on 06/26/2018 8:25:33 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that a California law that compels pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise abortion services is unconstitutional.
In a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Clarence Thomas and released Tuesday, the high court ruled in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra that the Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency (FACT) Act "unduly burdens protected speech."
"The unlicensed notice imposes a government-scripted, speaker-based disclosure requirement that is wholly disconnected from California's informational interest," wrote Justice Thomas.
"California has offered no justification that the notice plausibly furthers. It targets speakers, not speech, and imposes an unduly burdensome disclosure requirement that will chill their protected speech."
Thomas also wrote that the law not only forced pro-life centers to promote abortion, but to do so while diminishing their own message on pregnancy care.
"As California conceded at oral argument, a billboard for an unlicensed facility that says 'Choose Life' would have to surround that two-word statement with a 29-word statement from the government, in as many as 13 different languages," continued Thomas.
"In this way, the unlicensed notice drowns out the facility's own message. More likely, the 'detail required' by the unlicensed notice 'effectively rules out' the possibility of having such a billboard in the first place."
Thomas was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote a dissent and was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagan.
In 2015, California passed Assembly Bill 775 or the FACT Act. The law mandated that all licensed pregnancy health centers, among other things, include a sign that refers patients to abortion clinics.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Is this another kick in the gonads of the 9th CIRCUS?
Not even noon and Im having a wonderful day.
L
NTOWY
Too much winning for one day, I’m exhausted!
It is. Once again, Mr. Neil Gorsuch decides correctly. Imagine the $#!+show that SCOTUS would be inflicting on us if Merrick Garland had been confirmed to The Court.
Thank you, Jesus!
Woo Hoo!!!
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
The dissent: 3 girls and a fag.
5-4???????????????????
Winning
Between this and the meltdown of the media concerning the travel ban I shall have a fun day.
The court is just rocking it today
May Trump get to replace some of these soon. They are so predictable.
The government has lots of ways to spread a pro-abortion message.
It may not compel a private group to disseminate that message on its behalf.
Scary - the narrowest possible majority for basic free speech.
California is reaching out for Command and Control Socialism IMHO
To all the never Trumpers who “voted their conscience” in 2016 who lurk here:
You think this would have been possible with Queen Hillarita in that big chair?
May Trump get to replace some of these soon.
From your lips to God's ear.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.