Proponents Of 'Choose Life' License Plates Continue State-Level Campaigns

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 15 Oct 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Despite the Supreme Court's repeated refusal to take up cases related to "Choose Life" license plates, antiabortion-rights advocates are continuing to mount state-by-state legal campaigns for approval of the specialty plates, USA Today reports. Most recently, the court declined to hear an appeal of a federal court's decision that the Illinois motor vehicle administration is not required to offer the "Choose Life" license plates. Proponents of the plates also have hit roadblocks in New Jersey and New York.

According to the group Choose Life, the plates have been approved in 24 states, and advocates have won legal challenges in six states, most recently in Missouri and Arizona.

According to Thomas Brejcha, president of the Thomas More Society's Pro-Life Law Center, five U.S. circuit courts have ruled on the plates, each reaching a different conclusion. Brejcha argues that the varying conclusions and volume of litigation related to the matter make the issue "ripe for hearing" by the Supreme Court. Proponents of the plates claim that states' refusal to issue them violates their right to free speech.

According to Choose Life national publicity coordinator Russ Amerling, in addition to the Illinois case, the Supreme Court has declined to hear appeals of cases in Arizona, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Steve Trombley, president of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said, "License plates are not the place to have a thoughtful conversation about reproductive rights." Planned Parenthood has challenged the plates in numerous states on various grounds, including the fact that the plates often raise money for antiabortion crisis pregnancy centers that provide "medically inaccurate and misleading information." In some cases, state legislatures have approved Choose Life plates and rejected plates supporting abortion rights, Trombley said (Bruno, USA Today, 10/13).

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