Legal Update

Updated April 2021.  Here is Prof. William Wagner’s update on our Justice Center’s impact on important legal and policy matters impacting family, life, and freedoms of Christian people. 

Legal Cases – Update

Fighting for Electoral Integrity and the Constitutional Right to a Free and Fair Election

In various cases the Justice Center fought for the Constitutional Right to a free and fair electoral process. When many citizens from various political parties and diverse ethnicities produced substantial evidence of massive voter fraud, and illegal irregularities in the electoral process, we fought in various cases all the way to the Supreme Court. Our main purpose sought to restore integrity in the electoral process. Along the way we also fought to vindicate the constitutional right to a free and fair election for these citizens whose votes had been disenfranchised by the fraud. Responding to documented widespread fraud in the 2020 electoral process, we represented African American and other voters disenfranchised of their constitutional liberty.

Pending United States Supreme Court Cases

Prof. Wagner and our legal team at the Justice Center continue to participate, on behalf of Christian people, in various cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fighting for Unborn Children in SCOTUS

Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health – Prof. Wagner and our Justice Center currently represents the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Right to Life (MI), and a National Bioethics Center in the Supreme Court of the United States.  In this case we argue that the State of Mississippi holds a profound governmental interest in protecting  the inherent value of unborn children.  Click here for some excerpts from our legal brief filed in the Supreme Court

Fighting for Religous Freedom in Foster Care

The Justice Center filed a Supreme Court brief in support of a  challenge to Philadelphia’s exclusion of a Christian organization from a foster care system.  The city excluded this faith-based organization because of its religious tenets.  For more information, click HERE

Fighting for Religous Freedom of Pro-Lifers

In this important case we filed a Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of Christian business owners. In this case, the Court decides whether the government may force pro-life Christian employers to violate their religious conscience. (e.g., by requiring them to provide abortifacients insurance coverage to their employees).  The current administration enacted religious/ moral allowances with which the Justice Center agrees. 

Fighting to Overturn Roe v Wade

We also recently filed another brief in the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to overturn Roe v Wade – the diabolical decision judicially creating the “right” to kill a person’s son or daughter in utero.  In the alternative we asked the Court to uphold a pro-life law requiring abortion providers to hold local hospital privileges. In this case the Justice Center represented Right to Life.  Last week, Erin Mersino, the Justice Center’s Chief of Supreme Court Advocacy, attended oral arguments in this case with RTL’s Genevieve Marnon.  It was a great opportunity to serve as Salt & Light in the culture as we fought to protect life and religious freedom.  For more information click HERE

Fighting for Religous Freedom of Business Owners

R.G. & GR Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. v. EEOC – In this case we presented arguments to the Supreme Court that the US Court of Appeals improperly usurped power reserved to the Congress and President when it judicially amended Title VII to add transgender classifications.

Michigan Cases & Legal Matters

The Justice Center continues to serve as the first line of protection for religious freedom and expression here in Michigan.  Here are some of the matters on which we are on the front lines.

Justice Center sues Governor when she Makes it a Crime to Travel to or Attend Church Worship

Governor issued decree making it a crime for individuals to travel to or attend church worship. We sued in Federal Court. Governor acquiesced making it legal for individuals to travel to and attend church.

Justice Center Responds to Government Authorities Defying the Rule of Law and Attacking Religious Freedom

As noted, Michigan authorities continue to defy the rule of law in the area of religious freedom.  Michigan law properly prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, and religion. The Michigan legislature repeatedly voted not to add special classifications used by authorities to infringe on religious conscience and expression (e.g., gender identity).  The executive branch continues, with no legal authorization, to operate as if the legislature amended the law to allow for religious persecution.

The Justice Center provided assistance to Christian citizens in Holland, Michigan fighting proposed city ordinance that creates special preferences for sexual orientation / gender identity while discriminating against Christian people.  We also provided counsel and policy analysis used in the process. 

The Justice Center previously participated in hearings and legislative oversight of the AG and MCRC in connection with their misuse of power here.

The Justice Center currently represents a Christian family businesses being investigated by the MCRC for exercising their sincerely held religious beliefs in violation of a law that does not even exist.

Williamston School Board enacted politically charged sexuality policies.  These policies substantially infringe on the free exercise of religious conscience and expression. The Justice Center continues to represent parents and the community in a federal law suit fighting to protect religious freedom.

Planet Fitness revoked the membership of a woman who complained about the presence of a man she encountered in the woman’s locker room. The Justice Center continues to assist in a lawsuit against this national corporation, battling all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court for the right to go to trial.  With a recent victory in the Supreme Court we expect a trial soon.

When government leaders abuse power others follow in their footsteps.

A former pastor distributed fliers with a political message on a public sidewalk.   Government officials arrested him when they disagreed with the message.  The Justice Center assisted on this case where the former pastor first won a dismissal of the most serious felonies.  The government proceeded to trial on the remaining criminal charges, even though we contended these charges had no support in the law. After trial the the Court instructed the jury inappropriately, virtually requiring it to return a guilty verdict, not based on what the law actually said, but on what the court said the law was.  After a battle all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court, the Court completely exonerated the former pastor. 

The Justice Center just “won” a case on behalf of a Christian businessman facing millions of dollars in fines for his exercise of religious conscience.  His unwillingness to participate in abortions of his employees and government mandate collided. The Government admitted to violating our client’s freedom of religion and has agreed to pay attorney fees. Erin Mersino served as lead counsel.

Sample Other Cases

Special Nationwide Summary of Cases Impacting the Sanctity of Human Life

Compiled by AUL

U.S. Supreme Court

Abortion clinic/provider regulations/Third-party standing

• Louisiana- *June Medical Services v. Russo (No. 18-1323) (admitting privileges); and *June Medical Services v. Russo (No. 18-1460) (abortion provider standing). Petition and cross-petition granted, oral argument heard Mar. 4, 2020; decision expected before the end of the term.

Informed consent

• Indiana- Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky (No. 18-1019) (ultrasound) (originally conferenced Oct. 1, 2019, now apparently held)

Parental involvement

• Indiana – Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky (No. 19-816) (application of Hellerstedt analysis to parental involvement law). 

Clinic licensing

• Indiana – Hill v. Whole Woman’s Health Alliance (No. 19-743) (application of Hellerstedt analysis to decision denying abortion clinic a license). Response requested and filed; 

Free speech

• Illinois- Price v. City of Chicago (No. 18-1516) (“bubble zone” law) 

Rights of conscience

• Pennsylvania – Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, 19-431 (constitutionality of expanded exemptions from HHS birth control mandate, and standing of Little Sisters) & Trump v. Pennsylvania, 19-454 (constitutionality of expanded exemptions from HHS birth control mandate). Petitions granted and scheduled for oral argument on Apr. 29, 2020; decision expected by the end of the term.

Federal Courts of Appeals

Abortion access in custody

• D.C.- Garza v. Azar (D.C. Cir. No. 18-5093) (final injunction of 6/14/19 requiring Office of Refugee Resettlement to facilitate access to abortion; time for petition for certiorari extended to Nov. 8, 2019 allowed to lapse. CASE CONCLUDED)

Gestational limits

• Arkansas- *Hopkins v. Jegley (CA8 No. 17-2879) (dismemberment) (awaiting decision from oral argument on December 13, 2018; supplemental briefing received on effect of decision in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky, Inc., S. Ct. No. 18-483 (May 28, 2019) (per curiam) (upholding Indiana law requiring fetal remains to be buried or cremated but denying review of law barring abortions based on fetus’s race, sex, or disability))
• Arkansas- *Little Rock Family Planning Services v. Rutledge (CA8 No. 19- 2690) (18-week limit) (pending oral argument)
• Kentucky- EMW Women’s Surgical Center v. Beshear (CA6 No. 19-5516) (dismemberment) (argued Jan. 29, 2020, pending decision)
• Mississippi- *Jackson Women’s Health v. Currier (CA5 No. 18-60868) (15- week limit) (judgment and final injunction affirmed Dec. 13, 2019; petition for rehearing en banc denied Jan. 17, 2020. Petition for certiorari due Jun. 15, 2020 per Sup. Ct. Order dated Mar. 19, 2020 (adding 60 days to time to petition for writ of certiorari.)
• Mississippi- *Jackson Women’s Health v. Currier (CA5 No. 19-60455) (heartbeat) (judgment and final injunction affirmed Feb. 20, 2020. Petition for certiorari due Jul. 25, 2020 per Sup. Ct. Order dated Mar. 19, 2020 (adding 60 days to time to petition for writ of certiorari).)
• Missouri- Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, Inc. v. Parson (CA8 No. 19-2882) (8-week, 14-week, 18-week, 20-week) (pending oral argument)
• North Carolina- Bryant v. Woodall (CA4 No. 19-1685) (20-week limit) (pending oral argument)
• Texas- Whole Women’s Health v. Paxton (CA5 No. 17-51060) (dismemberment) (case stayed pending disposition of June Medical Services v. Russo)

Abortion clinic/provider regulations

• Kentucky- EMW Women’s Surgical Center v. Glisson (CA6 No. 18-6161) (transfer agreement) (oral argument held Aug. 8, 2019; pending decision)
• Louisiana– Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast v. Russo (CA5 No. 18-30699) (clinic licensing) (oral argument held Jan. 9, 2019)

Abortion funding

• South Carolina- Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. Baker (CA4 No. 18- 2133) (Medicaid) (affirmed by decision Oct. 29, 2019; petition for writ due in S. Ct. Mar. 27, 2020)
• Texas- Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Family Planning & Preventative Health Services v. Phillips (CA5 No. 17-50282) (Medicaid) (rehearing en banc held May 14, 2019; pending decision)

Chemical Abortion (RU-486)

• Wisconsin- *Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Kaul (CA7 No. 19-1835) (physician-only requirement, same physician must examine and prescribe pill, telemedicine ban) (injunction affirmed Nov. 7, 2019; petition for writ due in S. Ct. Apr. 7, 2020)

Fetal remains

• Arkansas- *Hopkins v. Jegley (CA8 No. 17-2879) (oral argument held Dec. 13, 2018; in supplemental briefing re effect of SCOTUS Box opinion)
• Texas- Whole Women’s Health v. Phillips (CA5 No. 18-50730) (oral argument held Sep. 5, 2019; decision pending)

Informed consent

• Kentucky- EMW Women’s Surgical Center v. Beshear (CA6 Nos. 17-6151, 17- 6183) (ultrasound) (law affirmed against First Amendment challenge; petition for writ of certiorari (S. Ct. 19-417) denied Dec. 9, 2019)

Omnibus challenge to abortion regulations

• Indiana- *Whole Woman’s Health Alliance v. Hill (CA7 No. 19-2051) (preliminary injunction allowing WWH to operate without a license upheld; petition for writ of certiorari filed (S. Ct. 19-743) and pending
• Louisiana- June Medical Services v. Gee (CA5 No. 19-30353) (mandamus denied by 5th Cir. Oct. 18, 2019)

Parental notice

• Alabama- Reproductive Health Services v. Bailey (CA11 No. 17-13561) (oral argument held Apr. 10, 2018; pending decision)

Physician only laws

• Arkansas- *Little Rock Family Planning Services v. Rutledge (CA8 No. 19- 2690) (oral argument pending)
• Wisconsin- *Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Kaul (CA7 No. 19-1835) (for chemical abortion) ((injunction affirmed Nov. 7, 2019; petition for writ due in S. Ct. Apr. 7, 2020)

Prenatal non-discrimination

• Arkansas- *Hopkins v. Jegley (CA8 No. 17-2879) (sex) (oral argument held Dec. 13, 2018; in supplemental briefing re effect of SCOTUS Box opinion)
• Arkansas- *Little Rock Family Planning Services v. Rutledge (CA8 No. 19- 2690) (Down syndrome) (pending oral argument)
• Ohio- Preterm-Cleveland v. Himes (CA6 No. 18-3329) (Down syndrome) (oral argument held before en banc court Jan. 29, 2019; pending decision)

Title X

• California- Essential Access Health, Inc. v. Azar (CA9 No. 19-15979); and California v. Azar (CA9 No. 19-15974); together with Oregon v. Azar/AMA v. Azar (CA9 No. 19-35386) and Washington v. Azar/National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (CA9 No. 19-35394) (en banc court of appeals ruled 7-4 on Feb. 24, 2020 that Protect Life Rule was constitutional and not a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act)
• Maryland– Mayor and City Council v. Azar (CA4 No. 19-1614 and No. 20- 1215) (pending petition for initial rehearing en banc filed Mar. 6, 2020 seeking circuit split w/ 9CA)
• Maine- Family Planning Association of Maine v. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (CA1 No. 19-1836) (voluntarily dismissed by plaintiff Oct. 22, 2019; CASE CONCLUDED)

Federal District Courts

Gestational limits

• Alabama- Robinson v. Marshall (M.D. Ala. No. 19-365) (ban with narrow exceptions)
• Georgia- SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective v. Kemp (N.D. Ga. No. 19-2973) (heartbeat)
• Indiana- Bernard v. Individual Members of the Indiana Medical Licensing Board (S.D. Ind. No. 19-1160) (dismemberment)

• Kentucky- *EMW Women’s Surgical Center v. Beshear (W.D. Ky. No. 19-178) (heartbeat)
• Ohio- Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region v. Yost (S.D Ohio No. 19-118) (15-week)

• Ohio- Preterm-Cleveland v. Himes (S.D Ohio No. 19-360) (heartbeat)
• Utah- Planned Parenthood Association of Utah v. Miner (D. Utah No. 19-238) (18-week)

Abortion funding

• Arkansas- Planned Parenthood v. Gillespie (E.D. Ark. No. 15-566) (Medicaid)
• Louisiana- Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast v. Gee (M.D. La. No. 15-565) (Medicaid) (case stayed pending outcome of Fifth Circuit rehearing en banc of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas v. Smith)

Abortion reporting

• Indiana- Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky. v. Commissioner, Indiana State Department of Health (S.D. Ind. No. 18-1219)

Chemical abortions (RU-486)

• Hawaii- Chelius v. Wright (D. Haw. No. 17-493)
• North Dakota- American Medical Association v. Stenehjem (D.N.D. No. 19- 125)

Conscience rights

• California- California v. Azar & Little Sisters of the Poor (N.D. Cal. No. 17- 5783) (Affordable Care Act Contraception Mandate)
• California- California v. Azar (N.D. Cal. No. 19-2769) (lead case) (HHS Conscience Protection Rule) (rule put on hold until November 22, 2019; hearing October 10, 2019)
• California- City & County of San Francisco v. Azar (N.D. Cal. No. 19-2405) (consolidated with No. 19-2769) (HHS Conscience Protection Rule)
• California- County of Santa Clara v. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (N.D. Cal. No. 19-2916) (consolidated with No. 19-2769) (HHS Conscience Protection Rule)
• California – Skyline Wesleyan Church v. California Dept. of Managed Care (S.D. Cal. No. 16-00501) (California abortion insurance mandate)

• New York- National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association v. Azar (S.D.N.Y. No. 19-5435) (consolidated with No. 19-4676) (HHS Conscience Protection Rule)
• New York- New York v. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (S.D.N.Y. No. 19-4676) (lead case) (HHS Conscience Protection Rule) (rule put on hold until November 22, 2019)
• New York- Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Azar (S.D.N.Y. No. 19-5433) (consolidated with No. 19-4676) (HHS Conscience Protection Rule)
• North Dakota- Christian Employers Alliance v. Azar (D.N.D. 16-309) (Affordable Care Act Contraception Mandate)
• Washington- Cedar Park Assembly of God of Kirkland, Wash. v. Kreidler (W.D. Wash. No. 19-518) (insurance coverage of abortion)

Free speech

• California- Center for Medical Progress; David Daleiden v. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (N.D. Cal. No. 16-236) (undercover videos)
• Illinois- NIFLA v. Rauner (N.D. Ill. No. 16-50310) (anti-pregnancy center law)
• New Jersey- Turco v. City of Englewood, N.J. (D.N.J. No. 15-3008) (buffer zone)

Informed consent

• North Dakota- American Medical Association v. Stenehjem (D.N.D. No. 19-125) (abortion pill reversal)

• South Dakota- Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota v. Daugaard (D.S.D. 11-4071)
• Arizona? ( )

Omnibus challenge to abortion regulations

• Arizona- Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Brnovich (D. Az. No. 19-207)
• Indiana- *Whole Woman’s Health Alliance v. Hill (S.D. Ind. No. 18-1904)
• Louisiana– June Medical Services v. Gee (M.D. La. No. 16-444) (minibus challenging six 2016 laws)
• Mississippi- *Jackson Women’s Health v. Currier (S.D. Miss. No. 18-171)
• Texas- Whole Women’s Health Association v. Paxton (W.D. Tex. No. 18-500)
• Virginia- Falls Church Medical Center v. Oliver (E.D. Va. No. 18-428)

Physician only laws

• Idaho- Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest & the Hawaiian Islands v. Wasden (D. Idaho 18-555)

Prenatal non-discrimination

• Kentucky- *EMW Women’s Surgical Center v. Beshear (W.D. Ky. No. 19-178)

State Courts

Abortion clinic/provider regulations

• Louisiana- June Medical Services v. Louisiana Department of Health (19th J. Dist. Ct. No. 657201)

Abortion funding

• Maine- Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center v. Hamilton (Me. S. Ct. No. Cum-17-494) (MaineCare) (waiting for opinion from oral argument on May 15, 2018)
• Pennsylvania- Allegheny Reproductive Health Center, et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Penn. Commonwealth Ct. No. 26-MD-2019) (Medicaid)

Informed consent

• Florida- Gainesville Woman Care v. Florida (Fla. 2d. Cir. No. 2015-CA- 001323) (reflection period)

IVF

• Connecticut- Bilbao v. Goodwin (Ct. S. Ct. No. 20078) (Decision: October sed Lower Court Decision; Ruled embryos are marital property and can be destroyed)