Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

Above, "Protesting Planned Parenthood in Washington, D.C." by American Life League is licensed under CC BY 2.0

October 2019 – Pro-Planned Parenthood (PP) U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick surprised citizen journalist David Daleiden of The Center for Medical Progress in a tentative ruling on July 16.

Orrick’s tentative ruling stated that “absent a defamation claim,” the First Amendment prevents PP from suing Daleiden for millions of dollars in damages as a result of undercover videos exposing discussions of fetal tissue sale-for-profit in 2015.

PP attorneys previously argued that Daleiden could be billed for security measures to prevent further journalistic efforts: cameras, fencing, bulletproof glass, etc. Judge Orrick dropped potential damages from as much as $2 million to as “little as $100,000,” defendants said.

“Now that all the facts, evidence, and testimony are in,” said Daleiden, “even Planned Parenthood’s favorite judge refuses to buy into the abortion giant’s fake news and lies about the honest motives and protected speech of pro-life citizen journalists.”

Orrick has close ties to PP, and his wife is an outspoken abortion activist, according to the Thomas More Society.

liveaction.org, 6/13/19; lifesitenews.com, 7/18/19;
washingtontimes.com, 7/22/19