Court Says County Disclosure Law Violates First Amendment Rights of Pregnancy Center

A Maryland county ordinance that requires limited-service pregnancy resource centers to make certain disclosures to pregnant women who visit them violates the centers’ free speech rights, a federal trial court ruled March 7 (Centro Tepeyac v. Montgomery Cnty., D. Md., 8:10-cv-01259-DKC, 3/7/14).

The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled that an ordinance adopted by Montgomery County that is expressly aimed at limited-service pregnancy resource centers (LSPRCs) violates the free speech rights of those centers under the U.S. Constitution. The court found the disclosure requirements, adopted in an effort to combat what local officials said ...