Today, Lowenstein Sandler’s Center for the Public Interest posted FAQs explaining some of the legal rights and risks for patients seeking lawful reproductive health care in New Jersey, individuals who assist such patients, and employers in New Jersey. The FAQs, researched and developed by more than 60 pro bono lawyers at Lowenstein Sandler, are available on the firm’s website.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a significant number of states have enacted, or will soon enact, laws that severely restrict or ban abortions. People living in states with bans or restrictions are traveling to states such as New Jersey, where abortion remains legal. In July, New Jersey enacted laws that enhance protection for individuals who receive, facilitate, or provide legal reproductive health services in the state.
In addition to posting FAQs, the firm is working with the ACLU of New Jersey on two related efforts: (1) reaching out to health care providers in the state to offer trainings and webinars that will help them both take advantage of the protections in the law and mitigate potential legal risks; and (2) establishing, training, and advising a network of select pro bono volunteer lawyers who will respond to calls to a telephone helpline which will be set up at Lowenstein.
The number to call for the helpline is 862-926-6565. Patients, providers, and those assisting patients can call this number and leave a message. Staff at Lowenstein Sandler will return these calls, collect basic information to be held securely at the firm, and make appropriate confidential referrals to a pro bono network of lawyers with relevant expertise who will offer one-on-one legal consultations and advice to callers who have questions about access to legal reproductive health care in New Jersey.
In addition to Lowenstein Sandler and the ACLU-NJ, this network includes, among others, the John J. Gibbons Fellowship in Public Interest & Constitutional Law at Gibbons P.C., the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., and the Rutgers Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic at Rutgers Law School-Newark.
