Judge temporarily blocks Michigan discrimination law after challenge from pro-life groups

U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker issued an opinion on Friday temporarily blocking a Michigan law that critics argued would force pro-life organizations to hire people who oppose their fundamental mission. The order also barred the law from requiring pro-life groups to carry insurance that includes abortion coverage. The lawsuit alleged that the state law violated the organizations’ First Amendment protections. The federal court also denied Michigan’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Right to Life of Michigan and the Pregnancy Resource Center Grand Rapids brought the case against the state in February, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom. The court’s injunction allowed the pro-life groups to continue operating under their religious-based mission while litigation advanced. The injunction also protects the organizations from repercussions from the state for declining to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans.

Why did the organizations bring the case? Michigan amended its employment discrimination law in 2023 and extended “sex” discrimination protections to include women who have had an abortion. The change would legally require pro-life groups to hire employees who may not agree with their mission or who were actively pro-abortion.

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart argued before the court that the government can’t force pro-life groups to sabotage their own beliefs by requiring them to employ staff who endorse abortion. He said the court made the right decision by protecting the organizations’ constitutional freedoms.

The state argued that Michigan’s Constitution guaranteed all citizens the right to make their own decisions regarding what the state described as their own bodies. The state’s argument made no reference to the bodies of the babies inside the mothers’ wombs.

Jonker noted that the pro-life organizations will likely succeed in the case, but asked Michigan’s Supreme Court to determine how far the law will apply to the groups.