Sixth Circuit Upholds Block on Tennessee Recruitment Ban

A divided Sixth Circuit panel upheld the block on Tennessee’s 2024 abortion law provision criminalizing adults for “recruiting” minors to obtain abortions, finding it violates the First Amendment. The court said the provision discriminates based on speech content and viewpoint, is overly broad, and could punish people for discussing health care options or expressing perspectives the state disfavors. The challenge was brought by state Rep. Aftyn Behn and attorney Rachel Welty, who argued the undefined term “recruit” could sweep in protected speech; the ruling leaves the challenged provision unenforceable.