PJI Backs Pro-Life Center in U.S. Supreme Court Case Defending Religious Freedom Against Government Overreach
Morristown, NJ – PJI, in partnership with New Jersey Family Policy Center, today announced the filing of a friend-of-the-court brief in the United States Supreme Court defending First Choice Women’s Resource Center, a Pro Life resource ministry.
The amicus curiae brief the case of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin (No. 24-781) supports First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a faith-based pregnancy center in New Jersey, in its challenge against an unconstitutional subpoena issued by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
First Choice operates solely on private donations, offering free services to women facing unplanned pregnancies. Yet, in 2023, Attorney General Platkin targeted the ministry with a sweeping subpoena demanding internal documents from First Choice including a list of its donors and sensitive internal records, allegedly based on concerns about the center’s client-facing communications.
Such actions strike at the heart of the First Amendment right to freely associate without fear of government harassment or retaliation. Attorney General Platkin has been outspoken about using his office to advance abortion access at any cost even if it means weaponizing state agencies against organizations that hold pro-life convictions. His record of dismissing parental rights, opposing school boards, and undermining Supreme Court rulings on both life and the Second Amendment shows a troubling pattern of favoring ideology over impartial justice.
“The office of Attorney General should never be a political weapon,” said Brad Dacus, President of PJI. “This case is about much more than one center in New Jersey. It’s about whether Americans of faith can serve their communities without being forced to hand over private donor lists to government officials hostile to their mission.”
The brief emphasizes that pregnancy resource centers play a vital role in offering compassionate alternatives to abortion, and government actions like Attorney General Platkin’s chill free expression and religious exercise. If the Attorney General’s actions go unchecked, the chilling effect on faith based nonprofits could be devastating nationwide. Confidential donor information, once made vulnerable, could expose individuals and families to intimidation and harassment simply for supporting ministries they believe in.
PJI, a leading pro-life nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of life-affirming organizations and individuals, stands firmly with First Choice and all pro-life centers that serve women with compassion and conviction. As the U.S. Supreme Court takes up this case, PJI urges leaders across the nation to reaffirm a simple principle: no government should have the power to punish or silence organizations because of their beliefs. Oral arguments in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin are expected during the Court’s October 2025 Term. For more information and ongoing updates, visit www.pji.org.