National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra
Description: California’s Reproductive FACT Act, AB 775, forced pro-life pregnancy care centers to provide free advertising for the abortion industry. The law required licensed medical centers that offer free, pro-life help to pregnant women to post a disclosure saying that California provides free or low-cost abortion and contraception services. The disclosure had to include a phone number for a county office that refers women to Planned Parenthood and other abortionists. The law also forced unlicensed pregnancy centers to add large disclosures about their non-medical status in all advertisements, even if they provide no medical services.
Permanent end to Calif. law that forced pro-life centers to advertise for abortion
“The government has no business forcing anyone to express a message that violates their convictions, especially on deeply divisive subjects such as abortion. California disregarded that truth when it passed its law forcing pro-life centers to advertise for the abortion industry. The district court’s order puts a permanent end to that law in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June, which rightly found that ‘the people lose when the government is the one deciding which ideas should prevail.’ The outcome of this case affirms the freedom that all Americans have to speak—or not to speak—in accordance with their conscience.”
Farris argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of NIFLA and two of its pro-life pregnancy centers.
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
Additional resources: National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra
Scroll down to view additional resources pertaining to this case and its surrounding issue
Previous News Releases
Commentary
Legal Documents
Related Resources
ABOUT Michael Farris
Michael P. Farris is president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom. Farris was founding president of both the Home School Legal Defense Association and Patrick Henry College and continues to serve as chairman of the board of HSLDA and chancellor emeritus of PHC. He graduated from Western Washington State College, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, followed by a J.D. from Gonzaga University (with honors). At Gonzaga, he was articles editor of the Law Review, and winner of the Linden Cup Moot Court Competition. He also earned an LL.M. in Public International Law from the University of London. Farris has specialized in constitutional appellate litigation. In that capacity, he has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, eight federal circuit courts of appeals, and in the appellate courts of 13 states. He is also the author of numerous amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court.