
WASHINGTON − TheSupreme Courton June 16 agreed to get involved in New Jersey's attempt to investigate crisis pregnancy centers. The court said it will decide whether First Choice Women's Resource Centers can use the federal courts to try to block the state's attorney general from investigating whether the centers misled women into believing they offered abortions. Attorney General Matthew Platkin is trying to get information from the centers about its practices, including details about its donors and internal communications. When First Choice went to federal court to prevent that, they were told they must first fight Platkin's subpoena in state court. Lawyers for First Choice argue the centers are already being harmed because the state's investigation has hurt its ability to attract donations and advertise its services. Platkin told theSupreme Courtthere's no evidence of that. And, he said, the court shouldn't intervene now because the state is still negotiating with the centers on the information it wants turned over. When that concludes, he said, the state courts will consider First Choice's claim that the documents request violates their constitutional rights before signing off on a subpoena. Lawyers for First Choice said state attorneys general are increasingly using their broad investigative powers − including to target political opponents – and federal intervention is needed. A number of conservative groups encouraged the Supreme Court to weigh in. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Supreme Court takes up pregnancy center's challenge to NJ probe