The First Choice Women’s Resource Centers — a group of faith‑based pregnancy centers — is asking the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to block a demand from Matthew Platkin, New Jersey’s attorney general, which would force the group to turn over 10 years of internal documents plus the names of thousands of donors. The centers say the demand violates their First Amendment rights.
The legal fight began after Platkin issued a subpoena for nearly 5,000 donations made to First Choice, along with a decade of internal records. The group had attempted to challenge the demand in federal court — citing constitutional protections — but was told that because Platkin filed counter‑suit in state court, they must exhaust state‑court remedies first. Lower federal courts upheld that requirement.
Now, allied with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), First Choice has asked the Supreme Court to rule that civil‑rights plaintiffs can go directly to federal court when they claim a state investigatory demand chills their free‑speech or associational rights.
ADF argues Platkin’s probe is part of a broader effort to target pro‑life centers. The filing notes that Platkin issued a “consumer alert” — drafted with help from Planned Parenthood — and signed a public letter vowing legal action against pregnancy centers that refuse to refer for abortions.
First Choice contends that forcing it to surrender donor identities and internal files could discourage contributions and imperil the privacy of supporters — a violation of free‑association protections under the First Amendment. ADF Senior Counsel said, “[First Choice] is entitled to vindicate those rights in federal court.”
In contrast, Platkin’s office says the subpoena is part of a legitimate investigation into potential consumer‑fraud and deceptive‑advertising violations. They argue First Choice misleads donors and clients by claiming to offer only pregnancy‑support services while concealing its anti‑abortion stance.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin on Tuesday. The case could reshape how and when states can probe religious or ideological organizations — and whether those groups can challenge such investigations in federal court when constitutional rights are at stake.
