BALTIMORE (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that a 2009 Baltimore ordinance cannot force a pregnancy center to post a disclaimer stating that it won’t refer women for abortions.
Local news organizations report that Senior U.S. District Court Judge Marvin J. Garbis ruled last week that the ordinance violates the Center for Pregnancy Concern’s free speech rights.
Garbis also ruled that the law forces pregnancy centers to post disclaimers that suggest abortion could be considered a good option for pregnant woman - a message the center finds “morally offensive.”
Garbis declined to rule if the law was unconstitutional.
Anthony McCarthy, a spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, says the city is exploring legal options to ensure women get access to reproductive health services.
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