Professor Michael Helfand, "The Abortion-Clinic Law Protecting Synagogues" -- Jewish Journal

Professor Michael A. Helfand's opinion article, "The Abortion-Clinic Law Protecting Synagogues," is published in the Jewish Journal. The article examines the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which has long been used by courts to draw a constitutional line between protected advocacy and coercive obstruction.

Excerpt from "The Abortion-Clinic Law Protecting Synagogues"

The FACE Act targets a specific kind of confrontation — when protest crosses the line from persuasion to coercion. “Force” and “threat of force” capture assaults and true threats, while “physical obstruction” refers to conduct that makes entry or exit impassable or unreasonably difficult. The law doesn’t prohibit protest or persuasion; it targets acts that block doors, surround entrances, or use threats of violence to make access impossible. Its focus is access, ensuring that people can reach a clinic or a synagogue without being physically prevented or placed in reasonable fear of harm.

The complete article may be found at Jewish Journal