(REVISED 01.07.2022) Just days after the Trump Administration published its Domestic Gag Rule, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a case on behalf of Maine Family Planning –the largest reproductive health care organization in the state and its sole Title X family planning program grantee–asking the District Court of Maine to block the rule. Maine Family Planning was forced to withdraw from Title X for a time in August 2019 as a result of the rule. On October 15, 2021, this case was voluntarily dismissed, in light of a new rule issued by the Biden Administration.

Plaintiff(s):   The Family Planning Association of Maine d/b/a Maine Family Planning 

Center Attorney(s):  Emily Nestler

Co-Counsel/Cooperating Attorneys: Emily Ullman and Jennifer Saperstein with Covington & Burling LLP; Richard O’Meara with Murray Plumb & Murray

Summary:

We filed our complaint in federal district court on March 6, 2019 and filed our request for a preliminary injunction on March 25. Our request was denied July 3, and Maine Family Planning has withdrawn from the Title X program for the time being. In January 2020, the federal government filed a motion to dismiss the case or grant summary judgment in the government’s favor. We filed a cross-motion for summary judgment and on June 9, the district court granted the federal government’s motion to dismiss the case.  We have filed a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. On October 15, 2021, this case was voluntarily dismissed.

Legal Documents:

• Complaint, 03.06.2019
• Amended Complaint, 11.22.2019
• Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, 02.27.2020
• Order and Decision, 06.09.2020