Pro-life groups recently challenged a series of local ordinances which limit the ability of sidewalk counselors to operate near abortion facilities.

Yet in a development which left Republicans furious, the Supreme Court has just refused to hear their arguments. 

Lower courts cited 2000 Supreme Court decision

According to Breitbart, America's highest judicial body declined on Monday to hear two cases challenging laws in Carbondale, Illinois, and Englewood, New Jersey.

The Carbondale law was challenged by a Missouri-based organization known as Coalition Life while the Englewood rule was the subject of a lawsuit filed by pro-life activist Jeryl Turco.

Supreme Court Declines to Weigh In on Abortion Clinic Buffer Zones https://t.co/y4rWgTcA6I

— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) February 26, 2025

However, lower courts ruled against both Coalition Life and Turco, pointing to the Supreme Court's 2000 ruling in Hill v. Colorado.

In that case, the justices voted six to three that a similar Colorado law did not violate the Constitution's First Amendment.

Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas oppose ruling

This week's decision was met with protest from Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas, who indicated that they would have opted to take the cases.

Thomas complained in sharply worded dissent that Monday's ruling is "incompatible with our more recent First Amendment precedents."

"To be sure, this Court has not uttered the phrase 'we overrule Hill.' For that reason, some lower courts have felt compelled to uphold Hill-like buffer zones around abortion clinics," Thomas wrote.

"This case is another prime example of that trend, and one can hardly blame [lower courts] for misunderstanding when we have created confusion," he continued. "

"We are responsible for resolving that confusion, and we should have done so here," the Republican-appointed justice went on to lament.

Pro-life group vows to continue "our lifesaving work on the sidewalk"

Brian Westbrook serves as executive director of Coalition Life, and he said in a statement that the group "will not be denied the ability to perform our lifesaving work on the sidewalk."

"We won’t stand idly by while millions of women are lied to and ushered down a path of pain and regret," Westbrook pledged. "We won’t sit on the sidelines while millions of innocent children are murdered, discarded and literally thrown in the trash."

"We won’t sit by and allow American citizens to be denied their fundamental rights to free speech on the sidewalk. This fight is far from over," the pro-life activist added.