Welcome to the TMS Weekly Dispatch for September 2, 2025—with the latest news and updates from the front line, to keep you in-the-know on all things Thomas More Society. We hope that you had a restful Labor Day weekend! If you missed last week’s edition, you can read it here.    

Here's a look back at the past week:

LISTEN: MIRABELLI AND WEST FEATURED ON WORLD MAGAZINE’S THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT:  Hosts of WORLD Magazine’s “The World and Everything in It,” Mary Reichard and Nick Eicher, did a deep dive into Thomas More Society’s case against Parental Exclusion Policies, Mirabelli v. Olson, speaking with teacher clients Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori West, along with TMS Special Counsel Paul Jonna.  

“We are fighting so that we can do our jobs and do them with integrity,” explained Mirabelli. The next major hearing in the case will take place on September 29^th.  

You won’t want to miss this episode. Listen here, or on your favorite podcast streaming platform, like Apple Podcast or Spotify.  

TMS FILES ‘FRIENDS-OF-THE-COURT’ BRIEF IN FIRST CHOICE v. PLATKIN: On behalf of leading pregnancy center networks Heartbeat International and Care Net, TMS attorneys filed an amici (‘friends-of-the-court’) brief in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Matthew Platkin, underscoring how New Jersey’s ongoing efforts targeting pro-life pregnancy centers is an alarming violation of the First Amendment that cannot continue.  

The New Jersey Attorney General’s expansive subpoena into private communications threatens to chill First Amendment speech and association nationwide, far beyond New Jersey itself. Platkin’s sprawling subpoena also seeks private communications from Heartbeat and Care Net—including emails, texts, and phone records—with their affiliate, First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.  

If New Jersey’s investigation is allowed to move forward, it could set a dangerous precedent that would endanger the ability of pro-life ministries to freely provide resources and guidance nationwide, threatening the essential privacy and effectiveness of their network's life-affirming mission.

From the Brief:

“The government’s baseless attempt to eavesdrop on and deter citizens’ private communications strikes at the heart of why we have the First Amendment in the first place... Damage to First Amendment rights do not happen in isolation. There can be expected at least a ripple effects on other parties’ rights to free speech and expressive association, if not a cascade of such effects.”

Read the full Brief here.  

THE BATTLE TO PROTECT LIFE-SAVING ABORTION PILL REVERSAL CONTINUES:  Last week, TMS filed a Motion for Leave to Appeal in Heartbeat International v. Letitia James, seeking permission from a New York state court to appeal an order that reversed the Monroe County Supreme Court’s venue determination consolidating cases in New York County, in what TMS argues was a politically driven maneuver by New York AG Letitia James to pull the case into her preferred court.

“If allowed to stand, this Court’s approach will enable state officials to manipulate venue to punish disfavored speakers, chilling the exercise of constitutional rights and eroding the predictability of New York’s venue rules,” the Motion states.  

As this procedural issue remains tied up in the courts, TMS attorneys are also preparing to argue an anti-SLAPP motion in the case, with a hearing scheduled for late October.  

CHRISTIAN CAKE DESIGNER ASKS U.S. SUPREME COURT TO PROTECT HER FREEDOM: Thomas More Society and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty submitted a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court in Cathy Miller v. California Civil Rights Department, the years-long battle to protect the religious freedom of Cathy Miller, custom cake designer and owner of Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, California.  

“California is forcing Cathy to surrender her faith to the state’s political agenda, taking away her ability to operate her business in alignment with her values and bring joy to others through her talented work,” says Charles LiMandri, TMS Special Counsel.  

Read the Petition for Writ of Certiorari here.  

TMS ARGUES IN COURT AGAINST ABORTION COVERAGE MANDATE: Last Tuesday, TMS attorney Matt Belz argued in the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court to defend the religious freedom of the Illinois Baptist State Association, challenging Illinois’ state mandate forcing all health insurance providers to include abortion coverage in their plans—even if they are fundamentally opposed to abortion.