Pro-life license plates ruled unconstitutional

COLUMBIA, SC — A federal judge has ruled that South Carolina’s “Choose Life” license plates are unconstitutional. Senior U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman ruled that the pro-life tags, approved by South Carolina’s legislature in 2001, violate the First Amendment because they provide a forum for pro-life advocates that abortion supporters are denied. Bertelsman’ decision conflicts with an earlier ruling by a federal appeals court that abortion advocates could not sue the state of Louisiana over its “Choose Life” license plates.

Planned Parenthood had challenged the plates and won an injunction that kept them from being issued. Tracey Green, an assistant deputy state attorney general, argued the license plates represent government speech “and communicate the state’s oft-expressed preference for childbirth over abortion.”