Schroeder, et al. v. Treto, Jr.

On September 20, 2023, Thomas More Society attorneys began a three-day bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston, in Schroeder, et al. v. Treto, Jr., a case challenging an Illinois law that seeks to force doctors and pregnancy help centers to refer for abortion—regardless of their conscientious objections, moral or religious.

Illinois’ 2016 amendment to the state’s Heath Care Right of Conscience Act seeks to require physicians and pregnancy help centers to share with patients and clients the so-called “benefits” of abortion, as well as refer their abortion-minded patients and clients to providers who offer abortion. SB 1564 runs roughshod over the free speech, religious exercise, and conscience rights of pro-life physicians and pregnancy help centers.

The federal lawsuit was filed on March 16, 2017. Thomas More Society is representing Dr. Ronald L. Schroeder, an Illinois physician; 1st Way Life Center and Focus Women's Center, pregnancy help centers in Johnsburg and McHenry, Illinois; and Pregnancy Aid South Suburbs, a group of pregnancy help centers in the Chicagoland area.

In July 2017, a federal judge issued a statewide preliminary injunction against enforcement of SB 1564 in a similar case challenging the law—National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, et al. v. Treto, Jr. For seven years, this injunction has blocked enforcement of SB 1564 by the state of Illinois.

In Schroeder v. Treto, Jr. and NIFLA v. Treto, Jr., Thomas More Society and Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys are seeking a permanent halt to the law so that the consciences of pro-life pregnancy centers and pro-life doctors are not violated.