Supreme Court lets anti-abortion center challenge New Jersey subpoena in federal court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously ruled for an anti-abortion pregnancy center in a case that could affect how states investigate advocacy groups and nonprofits.

In First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport, the Court allowed the group to pursue its federal lawsuit over a New Jersey subpoena seeking documents and donor information. The ruling is procedural, but it revives a First Amendment fight over whether the state investigation can go forward without federal court review.

The dispute began after New Jersey opened an investigation into whether the center misled people about abortion-related services. First Choice argued that the subpoena burdened its associational rights and chilled speech by forcing disclosure of sensitive donor information.

AP and Reuters both reported the decision on April 29. The Court’s own website described the holding as recognizing a present injury to First Amendment associational rights sufficient for Article III standing.

The ruling does not end the state investigation itself. It does mean the center can keep pressing its constitutional claims in federal court, a result advocacy groups said could matter beyond this case for organizations facing state subpoenas.

Civil-liberties groups welcomed the decision as a safeguard against speech-chilling investigations, while religious-liberty advocates said it protects ministries from state overreach.