Following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, New Jersey continued to position itself as one of the most pro-abortion states in the country.
In addition to existing laws that codify abortion rights and allow it at any stage of pregnancy with no gestational limits, Governor Phil Murphy has explicitly framed New Jersey as a “safe haven,” welcoming out-of-state patients seeking the termination of pregnancies and offering legal protection and financial incentives.
In addition to decidedly pro-choice legislation and radical policies, some state lawmakers have gone on the offensive, seeking to discredit and disable pregnancy resource centers.
In October of 2023, New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer launched a brazen attack, holding a press conference in front of Lighthouse Pregnancy Center in Hackensack, NJ, saying, “We need to do everything we can to shut down these brainwashing cult clinics.”
In November of 2023, NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin investigated First Choice Women’s Centers for allegedly violating anti-consumer fraud laws. Platkin issued a subpoena to First Choice that included a request to release the names of 5,000 donors and other extremely sensitive information.
Thankfully, Platkin’s actions have caught the attention of some state lawmakers. In February 2025, Republican members of the New Jersey Assembly introduced articles of impeachment against him, citing multiple grievances related to his conduct in office. One of the articles of impeachment includes allegations that Platkin targeted pro-life pregnancy centers due to their religious speech and pro-life views, noting that the Attorney General issued an overbroad subpoena to First Choice and aligned himself with Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion mission, enlisting its help to target these centers.
“As a result of his own political ambition, Matthew Platkin has used the Office of the Attorney General to target individuals he disagrees with politically, which has done professional and financial damage to these individuals and their families and has caused further damage to the reputation of the office,” a Republican resolution reads.
A majority of the New Jersey Assembly members must vote to impeach Platkin. The state Senate would then hold a trial. Platkin would only be removed from his position if two-thirds of senators voted to convict him.
In the meantime, First Choice continues to challenge the Attorney General in court. On October 15, 2024, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of First Choice, seeking to stop his subpoena requests. Previously, legal attempts by First Choice to stop the subpoena were denied in state courts.
ADF claimed that Platkin issued a broad, baseless subpoena that requires the organization to expend its limited resources to produce massive amounts of confidential documents or face judicial penalties.
“The attorney general does not refer to any evidence of wrongdoing to justify his demands,” a press release states.
“New Jersey’s attorney general is targeting First Choice Women’s Resource Centers—a ministry that provides free ultrasounds, baby clothes, and more to its community—simply because of its pro-life views,” said ADF Senior Counsel Erin Hawley, vice president of the ADF Center for Life and Regulatory Practice. “The U.S. Constitution protects First Choice and its donors from unjustified demands for their identities and First Choice is entitled to vindicate those rights in federal court.”
Platkin responded by filing his own lawsuit in state court. This action led the lower federal court to say that First Choice must pursue its claims in state court first.
ADF, however, continues to challenge the lower federal court’s decision. In February, ADF filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin, asking the court “to recognize its right to file a federal lawsuit against Platkin over his unconstitutional investigation.” ADF asked the Supreme Court to grant review of the case and hold that civil rights plaintiffs do not need to litigate challenges to investigations first in state court before they can bring federal claims—the same standard that applies to any other person suffering constitutional injury at the hands of a state official.
“The First Amendment protects First Choice’s right to freely speak about its beliefs, exercise its faith, associate with like-minded individuals and organizations, and continue to provide its free services in a caring and compassionate environment to people facing difficult pregnancy circumstances,” Hawley added. “The lower courts have wrongly held that First Choice is relegated to state court to present its constitutional claims. That is inconsistent with civil rights law and with the First Amendment.”
In a brief to the Supreme Court, ADF attorneys wrote that Platkin “has made no secret of his hostility towards pregnancy centers.”
“[Platkin] issued a consumer alert—drafted with the help of Planned Parenthood—complaining that such centers do not provide or refer for abortion. He also signed an open letter pledging to take legal action against pregnancy centers. The Attorney General made good on that pledge by issuing an invasive Subpoena to First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.”