Judge prevents Planned Parenthood from keeping Abby Johnson quiet

Nov 10, 2009 / 16:41 pm

After Abby Johnson resigned from her job as director of the Bryan/College Station Planned Parenthood and became pro-life, her former employer tried to keep her from speaking about the reason she left. On Tuesday afternoon, a Texas judge foiled those plans by refusing to issue a restraining order against Johnson.

Last Friday, Planned Parenthood filed a temporary restraining order against Johnson, who had worked at the clinic in Bryan/College Station for eight years. According to TheEagle.com, Planned Parenthood lawyers were concerned that Johnson would share confidential information about the clinic's security procedures, business plans, medical records as well as the identity of the abortionist employed there.

Johnson was surprised by the measure, noting that not only did she leave “on good terms,” but that “Planned Parenthood even called me and offered me my job back with more money but this was not about money or me being angry, it was about my change of heart on abortion."

During today's hearing, Judge Langley listened to nearly two hours of testimony from each side before stating that Planned Parenthood did not offer convincing reasons "to warrant the extreme remedy of injunctive relief."

Johnson said in an interview after the hearing that she was pleased with the ruling because it allowed her to speak more openly about her time at Planned Parenthood and the circumstances surrounding her departure.

Following the decision, David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life released a statement saying, “I am gratified that Planned Parenthood has failed in its misguided effort to silence its former clinic director in Bryan/College Station, Texas, who experienced a spiritual conversion after witnessing an abortion and is now pro-life.”

Johnson resigned from Planned Parenthod on Oct. 6 after watching an ultrasound of an abortion. "I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that's it," stated Johnson.

The former director has been working with the Coalition for Life, a pro-life organization that often prays outside the Bryan/College Station clinic.