AITKIN, Minn. — A jury ruled Friday that a central Minnesota pharmacist did not violate a woman’s rights when he refused to provide her with emergency contraception more than three years ago.
Andrea Anderson, McGregor’s mother of five, sued under the Minnesota Human Rights Act after the pharmacist, based on her religious beliefs, refused to accommodate her request. State law prohibits discrimination based on sex, including matters related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The ruling comes amid a national political debate over contraception under federal law, with the US House passing a bill that would guarantee the right to contraception. House Democrats are worried that a conservative U.S. Supreme Court that already gutted federal abortion rights could go further and limit the use of contraception.
Leaders of the Gender Justice group, which represented Anderson, said they plan to appeal, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.
“The testimony was so clear that she received less services than other clients because what she was going for was emergency contraception. And so we believe that, as a matter of law, that is discrimination in Minnesota,” said Jess Braverman, legal director of the advocacy group.
Anderson brought her prescription for a morning-after pill to McGregor’s Thrifty White Pharmacy in January 2019. Longtime pharmacist George Badeaux told her she couldn’t fill the prescription based on her beliefs.
Anderson eventually filled his prescription at a Brainerd pharmacy, making the more than 100-mile (161-kilometer) round trip in wintry driving conditions.
Attorneys for Badeaux did not immediately respond to a request for comment.