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U.S. Supreme Court May be Next Stop for Illinois 'Choose Life' Specialty License Plates

by Staff
November 13, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- The following is a statement from Thomas Brejcha regarding today's decision by federal appeals court that the Illinois Secretary of State's offices does not have to issue specialty license plates bearing the slogan "Choose Life":

We are very disappointed that the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago has reversed the decision handed down on January 22, 2007, by U.S. District Court Judge David Coar. Coar affirmed that Illinois violated the First Amendment rights of more than 25,000 Illinois citizens who signed petitions for Illinois' approval and issuance of 'Choose Life' specialty license plates. Proceeds were to be dedicated to funding adoptions throughout Illinois.

Illinois has approved an entire variety of other specialty plates for pet friendly, pro-organ donation, environmental issues and peace birds. No one ever sought approval or issuance of a "Pro-Choice" plate; we would have no objection to such a plate if sufficient persons signed petitions for it.

The court's decision today is in direct conflict with decisions of many other federal appellate and trial courts. We intend to ask for a rehearing, and failing that rehearing, we will pursue a review of the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thomas Brejcha is president and chief counsel at Chicago's Thomas More Society, a public interest law firm representing the non-profit group, Choose Life Illinois, Inc., which is advocating for these specialty plates. www.thomasmoresociety.org.

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This state is next in line behind Calif in it's movement on such things as this. The Secretary of State's office claims it would begin production of Choose Life plates if there were a minimum 850 orders for it. As indicated in the article above there has been over 25,000 orders for the plate and Illinois state still refuses to start production of them. One of the problems with the current design of this plate is that it cannot be ordered with a handicap emblem or it would be requested by several thousand more people.

This is not the first time that a pro-life plate has been rejected by this very far left democratic state. Thanks to politicians like Rod Blagojevich, Barrack Obama, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Jesse White (Sec of St) and other democrats this state has become ultra-liberal.