Pregnancy Justice News

Harming Fathers: How the Family Court System Forces Men to Regulate Pregnancy

Pregnancy Justice's groundbreaking report Harming Fathers: How the Family Court System Forces Men to Regulate Pregnancy analyzes and documents dozens of cases across the country in which men have been labeled as abusive or neglectful — even losing access to their children — for failing to control the behavior of women during their pregnancies.

Issue Brief: Parenting and Drug Use

People parent. People use drugs. People parent and use drugs. Despite how common this is, parenting and drug use is highly stigmatized, rarely talked about, and punishable by the state within both the criminal and family legal systems. But, we know that not all parents are faced with family separation and criminalization.

Medical Experts’ Amicus Brief in Support of Emily Akers, Arrested and Charged With Manslaughter for Pregnancy Loss in Oklahoma

Emily Akers of Oklahoma experienced a pregnancy loss at 20 weeks and was charged with manslaughter based on the theory that methamphetamine use caused the stillbirth. This brief, filed by attorney John Coyle on behalf of local and national medical experts, underscores that there is no evidence-based research to support the prosecution’s theory that methamphetamine causes stillbirths.

After Four Long Years in Prison, Adora Perez’s Murder Charge for Stillbirth Is Dropped

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2022.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Mary McNamara of Swanson & McNamara LLP, Mary@smllp.law; Pregnancy Justice, media@advocatesforpregnantwomen.org; and ACLU of Northern California, press@aclunc.org

After four years in prison, Adora Perez's murder charge for experiencing a stillbirth has been dropped.

Pregnancy Justice Client Supports California Bill to Stop Pregnancy Loss Criminalization

Pregnancy Justice Staff Attorney Samantha Lee testified in support of a California bill that will ensure that no one in the State of California will be prosecuted for ending a pregnancy or experiencing pregnancy loss. In her testimony, Ms. Lee shared a statement from Pregnancy Justice's client, Chelsea Becker, who was charged with murder for experiencing a stillbirth in Kings County, California.

Case Update: Arizona Mother Placed on Child Neglect Registry for Using Legal Medical Marijuana Wins on Appeal

Last week, the Arizona Court of Appeals reversed the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s decision to place Lindsay R. on its child abuse and neglect Central Registry for 25 years for using legally prescribed marijuana to treat her hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition that causes severe nausea and vomiting and can endanger the life of the pregnant woman and her pregnancy.

Progress for Adora Perez: Unlawful Manslaughter Conviction for Stillbirth Overturned

On March 18, 2022, a judge in Kings County, California reversed Adora Perez's guilty plea and vacated her 11-year sentence, sending the case back to the trial court for new proceedings. In 2018, Adora Perez, poorly advised by her court-appointed counsel, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter of her fetus, a crime that doesn't exist in California.

Pregnancy Justice and Allies Testify in Support of Maryland Bills Protecting the Rights and Freedoms of Pregnant People

Download PDF of testimony in support of HB 0626, Pregnant Person's Freedom Act

Download PDF of testimony in support of HB 1135, Perinatal Care: Drug and Alcohol Testing and Screening Consent

Testimony of Pregnancy Justice in Support of HB 0626, Pregnant Person’s Freedom Act

Pregnancy Justice respectfully submits this written testimony in support of HB 0626, a bill that protects pregnant people from criminalization related to pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and abortions.

Testimony of Pregnancy Justice before Colorado General Assembly in Support of HB 1279

Pregnancy Justice is a non-partisan legal advocacy organization dedicated to the welfare of pregnant people and their families. Our testimony draws on over 20 years of experience on cases in which state actors arrested and prosecuted pregnant or postpartum women for experiencing pregnancy losses or engaging in acts or omissions that posed some imagined risk of harm to a fetus.

Pregnancy Justice Testifies Against Two Wyoming Bills Criminalizing Pregnancy and Substance Use

Pregnancy Justice has submitted written testimony opposing two bills in Wyoming, both of which would criminalize substance abuse during pregnancy. Read more for details on each bill and the reasons behind our opposition.

Download PDF version of testimony opposing HB0085.

Download PDF version of testimony opposing SF0089.

Testimony in Opposition to HB0085, "Child endangering-controlled substance use while pregnant"

Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Wyoming Senate.