Welcome to the TMS Weekly Dispatch for March 31, 2025—with the latest news and updates from the front line, to keep you in-the-know on all things Thomas More Society. If you missed last week’s Dispatch, you may read it by clicking here.

‍Here’s a look back at the past week:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO CALIFORNIA GENDER SECRECY POLICIES: Last Thursday, the Trump Department of Education opened an investigation into the California Department of Education for alleged violations of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This federal probe targets California state policies that mandate educators to withhold critical information from parents about their own children’s gender presentation, aligning with Thomas More Society’s ongoing legal battle against harmful “Parental Exclusion Policies” in California schools in its landmark Mirabelli v. Olson case.

Thomas More Society Special Counsel Paul Jonna reacted:

“The federal government’s investigation is a welcome move after years of litigation against California’s radical scheme to deceive parents about their own children. In Mirabelli v. Olson, we’ve exposed the damage of these policies—harm to young children, betrayal of parents, and coercion of teachers. California’s AB 1955 doubled down on this secrecy, and now the U.S. Department of Education is rightfully stepping in to ensure compliance with federal law. We will continue fighting this battle in federal court and hope to put this issue to rest once and for all—by obtaining class-wide relief on behalf of all California teachers and parents affected by these dangerous secrecy mandates.”

‍DAILY SIGNAL EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP DOE HELPS CALIFORNIA PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAWSUIT: Following the announcement of the Department of Education’s investigation into the California’s gender secrecy regime, Thomas More Society requested the court take judicial notice of the investigation, drawing  attention to the timely and relevant nature of our ongoing case against “Parental Exclusion Polices” in Mirabelli v. Olson.

“This whole empire of gender secrecy policies is going to crumble very soon,” TMS Special Counsel Paul Jonna told The Daily Signal in an exclusive interview. The DOE’s investigation will “solidify the commonsense fact that the [California Department of Education] is still a bad actor [and] they need to be restrained in court and enjoined from promoting these dangerous policies,” continued Jonna. 

‍THOMAS MORE SOCIETY AT THE ILLINOIS PRO-LIFE MARCH: On March 25, the Thomas More Society team bore witness to the sanctity of human life alongside thousands of pro-life Illinoisans at the Illinois Pro-Life March, sending a bold message to state leaders: “The Future Belongs to a Culture of Life.” PHOTOS: 

TMS FILES BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF NEW YORK PREGNANCY CENTERS AGAINST LETITIA JAMES: Thomas More Society filed a friend-of-the court brief in one of many cases brought on behalf of New York pregnancy centers against New York's pro-abortion attorney general, Letitia James, whose attacks on pro-life speech unconstitutionally silence pro-life pregnancy centers that exist to serve women. The brief, filed on behalf of Summit Life Outreach Center and The Evergreen Association, contends that New York AG Letitia James’ campaign of censorship and legal threats against pro-life pregnancy centers, many of whom are represented by Thomas More Society, constitutes unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.

Thomas More Society won a victory against James in 2024, on behalf of pregnancy centers and their right to continue promoting Abortion Pill Reversal, and remains hopeful that more victories on behalf of lifesaving pro-life pregnancy centers will soon occur.  

From the brief:  

“A theory of government undergirding American democracy since its beginning is that no freedom can long survive without freedom of speech. That includes speech about science, an issue of public concern that was central to the development of free speech theory to include the everyman rather than… just the so-called experts. But, out of naked viewpoint animus, James has waged lawfare against small pregnancy centers for a year just because they advocate scientific truths she wishes were false. A victory for James would be dangerous for science… even more dangerous for democracy.”  

JUDGE GRANTS PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO INDIANA ABORTIONISTS, TMS TO APPEAL: An Indiana judge has granted a preliminary injunction against the Indiana Department of Health in favor of abortionists Caitlin Bernard and Caroline Rouse, blocking the release of Terminated Pregnancy Reports (TPRS). TPRs serve to reveal any health and safety violations committed by the abortion industry in Indiana. Thomas More Society will appeal the injunction, seeking to restore this basic standard of accountability and protect women and children in the Hoosier State. Read background in our defense of Voices for Life and the fight to release abortion date, here. 

TMS SENIOR COUNSEL MATT HEFFRON TESTIFIES IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE ON COUNSELING CENSORSHIP BILL: On March 27, TMS Senior Counsel Matt Heffron testified against Nebraska LB 367, which would prohibit health care professionals such as therapists from providing certain forms of counseling to children under the age of 19 in the state. Heffron demonstrated that the bill is unconstitutional and has the potential to harm children by preventing them from getting basic help and counsel from a therapist regarding their sexuality and mental health. Many bills similar to Nebraska’s are being proposed nationwide. 

“The only type of speech that is banned by LB-367, is certain types of speech,” Heffron said. “Particularly, if a minor is unhappy with a same-sex attraction, or if he’s experiencing gender dysphoria, professionals cannot even speak to them to help them work through their goals.”
‍
THOMAS MORE SOCIETY FILES NOTICE OF APPEAL AGAINST SAN DIEGO NO-SPEECH ZONE: Thomas More Society filed notice of appeal in Lopez v. San Diego after a California federal judge dismissed the case last week. “Thomas More Society is still representing several plaintiffs in bubble zone cases, including mine, and will continue attempting to bring a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, which will force a re-visit to Hill v. Colorado. If Hill v. Colorado is overturned, that would create new precedent for ruling against most bubble ordinances that have been enacted throughout the nation,” wrote pro-life sidewalk counselor Roger Lopez in California Catholic Daily.

“Please pray for and support Thomas More Society in their battle against oppressive ordinances that restrict free speech and outreach to pregnant women entering abortion facilities,” Lopez added.