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Summary
A Washington state law, SB 6219, forces churches that provide maternity care in their health insurance plans to also cover abortion. As a result of the state’s mandate, Cedar Park Church’s insurance carrier was required by law to insert surgical abortion coverage directly into the church’s health plan.
ADF filed a federal lawsuit in March 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. But in May 2020, the district court dismissed Cedar Park’s lawsuit against the state.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represented Cedar Park at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge Washington’s law.
On July 22, 2021, the Ninth Circuit sided with Cedar Park and ruled that the church has sufficient cause to sue the State of Washington. The church properly alleged a free-exercise injury due to the government’s pro-abortion law, affirmed the court.
Watch
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Legal Documents
Biographies
Elissa Graves
Legal Counsel
Elissa Graves serves as legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a key member of the Center for Life.
John Bursch, Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel, Vice President of Appellate Advocacy
John Bursch, Vice President of Appellate Advocacy with Alliance Defending Freedom. He has argued 12 U.S. Supreme Court and over 30 State Supreme Court cases.
Additional Resources
Watch: Washington State Wants to Force This Church to Pay for Abortions | Cedar Park Church Client Journal
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