SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court has declined to immediately block a California law that requires pregnancy centers to inform women about publicly-funded abortion services.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that the law applies to all licensed pregnancy clinics, not just those opposed to abortion, and is narrowly written to achieve the state’s goal of ensuring women have adequate information about abortion.
The ruling came in lawsuit by pregnancy centers opposed to abortion. The centers said the law violated their freedom of speech and religion and sought a preliminary injunction blocking it.
Supporters of the law said it would address deceptive practices by crisis pregnancy centers that aim to discourage and prevent women from seeking abortions.
Matt Bowman, an attorney for the pregnancy centers, said he will discuss the possibility of an appeal with is clients.
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