Court blocks new Illinois law allowing state to penalize anti-abortion pregnancy centers

Gov. J.B Pritzker said he’s confident the courts will uphold an Illinois law allowing fines against crisis pregnancy centers, which often pop up near abortion facilities, if they disseminate misleading or untruthful information. (AP file)

ROCKFORD — A federal judge has blocked a new Illinois law that allows the state to penalize anti-abortion pregnancy centers if they use deception to interfere with patients seeking the procedure.

U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston said Thursday the new law “is painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Amendment.”