NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio plaintiff in Ohio license plate case
ACLU represents NARAL in landmark free speech case Cleveland, OH – NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio announced today that it is the lead plaintiff in a federal court case challenging the State of Ohio’s creation of “choose life” license plates. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation is representing NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio in the suit. The case was filed this morning in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland. In late 2004, the Ohio General Assembly sent a bill creating “choose life” license plates to the governor. Governor Taft signed the bill into law on February 15, 2005. NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio followed statutory procedure and collected over 1,000 signatures on a petition that called for the General Assembly to create a countering “pro-choice” plate. The speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives refused to recognize the amendment offered by NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. In the suit, the ACLU of Ohio alleges that the state unconstitutionally engaged in viewpoint discrimination because it created a limited public forum and offered the plates to groups representing only one side of the political debate. Courts in South Carolina and Tennessee have found similar license plates schemes to be unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear arguments on the South Carolina case. “It is absolutely alarming that the Ohio General Assembly saw fit to create this unconstitutional scheme,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland. “The money and time they have wasted should have gone to provide much needed medical services to women. Not only are these plates unconstitutional but the money they raise funds centers that often masquerade as clinics to lure in women and give them inaccurate and misleading information. The State of Ohio should stand up for women’s health and reject these “choose life” plates.” NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio is committed to developing a constituency that uses the democratic process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal reproductive decisions including: preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing safe, legal abortion.
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