Tasha Keirns (BSN, RN), CEO of RealOptions, testifies about the care her organization offers to California women who seek it.

Christa Brown (BSN, RN, LAS), Senior Director of Medical Impact at Heartbeat International, who oversees the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network, continues her testimony.

Both Christa and Tasha serve women who are looking for a second chance at choice. California argues that the intent of its lawsuit is to protect women’s health; however, the attorney general is denying women information they seek out and have a right to receive. Heartbeat’s attorneys at legal non-profit Thomas More Society address this argument in more detail on their website.

Christa Brown (BSN, RN, LAS) continues her testimony about the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network.

California mom, Elizabeth Barrett testifies about her experience with APR. When asked why she volunteered to testify, Elizabeth says, "What I lived through is controversial... I only know that because anytime I bring it up, people having feelings [about it]..." She “just want[ed] to share what it was like."

Elizabeth’s healthy baby girl was born in 2024. Today, Elizabeth and her partner, Ben, are married. Her story is full of redemption and hope; her story–and pictures of her baby girl–are also part of the legal record.

Christa Brown (BSN, RN, LAS) continues her testimony.

David Glidden, Ph.D statistics expert for the State, returns to testify.

Valerie Hill, CEO Emeritus at RealOptions, testifies. In her legal declaration, submitted when she served as CEO, Valerie notes that “[a]ll women who consider or choose abortion are dealing with varied and difficult circumstances that led them to make an abortion decision.” Also, her declaration notes, “RealOptions makes absolutely no money from providing APR services.”

Donna Hecke, Chief Marketing Officer at RealOptions, testifies. California is seeking to make the case that Heartbeat and RealOptions’ speech is “commercial speech” and subject to state consumer fraud law. The problem for California is that a free service by nonprofits simply is not “commerce.” Heartbeat’s attorneys at Thomas More Society address this and other false claims on their APR website.

Dr. George Delgado continues to testify. In his closing comments, Dr. Delgado shares his motivation for creating and practicing the APR protocol: “...I see no higher calling than to help these women who are asking for a second chance at choice…. I know that I'm doing the right thing for these women, and for their children who are to be born later.”

California APR mom Uyen Pham testifies about how her boyfriend kept arguing that someone her age should not have kids and how he pressured her toward abortion. At about nine weeks pregnant, she took the first abortion pill, mifepristone, and almost instantly regretted the decision. Even though a Planned Parenthood employee told her that, once she started, she couldn’t stop the procedure, Uyen decided she wanted her baby.

Because of Heartbeat and RealOptions, Uyen continued her pregnancy without any side effects or complications from taking the progesterone–and welcomed a healthy baby boy. In testimony and written declaration, Uyen expresses gratitude for the opportunity to save her child’s life. Pictures of Uyen’s baby boy are submitted as part of the legal record.

Dr. George Delgado, an M.D., testifies. Dr. Delgado is a pioneer of the APR protocol and groundbreaking APR research. In 2012, he established the original Abortion Pill Reversal Network, before transferring it to Heartbeat International in 2018, when it became the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network. As part of the legal record, a California mom submitted testimony about how Dr. Delgado provided progesterone treatment to her about 15 years ago–enabling her to continue her pregnancy and deliver a baby boy who is now 14 years old.

Related: Dr. Delgado’s book Abortion Pill Reversal: A Second Chance at Choice gives an inside look at why he started the APRN and presents personal accounts by women who attempted to reverse their chemical abortions.

Professor Laura Munoz, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing at the University of Dallas, testifies that Heartbeat’s and RealOption’s communications about APR are not misleading under standard advertising and marketing principles. While California argues that APR claims are “false advertising,” the attorney general can’t prove falsity because the science supports APR. Thomas More attorneys explain more here.

Dr. New finishes testifying.

Christa Brown (BSN, RN, LAS), who oversees the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network for Heartbeat International, testifies. Christa describes how APRN nurses inform callers about their options and explain the APR protocol and then refer the patient to local medical providers who supervise their care.

Michael J. New, Ph.D., assistant professor of practice at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, testifies about the scope and validity of the medical studies and their methods surrounding APR.

Elena Kraus M.D., Ph.D. wraps up testimony.

Elena Kraus M.D., Ph.D., medical expert for the defense, testifies. She specializes in maternal-fetal medicine, regularly provides assessment and counseling concerning the safety of a wide variety of medications used to treat medical diagnoses in pregnancy, and conducts original research and has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed and other publications in multiple areas of medicine and health care ethics. Dr. Kraus noted in her written declaration: “Based on my review of the scientific literature, I conclude to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty that providing pregnant women with supplemental progesterone following the initiation of a medication abortion is safe and efficacious at increasing the likelihood of continuation of pregnancy.”

Mary Davenport, M.D., OB/GYN, wraps up her testimony.

Erika Carillo, a mother who was able to save her baby after starting APR, testifies. At RealOptions, she had an ultrasound and was able to see her unborn baby for the first time. Erika’s son is nine years old this year. Her story–and pictures of her son–are now part of the public legal record.

Mary Davenport, M.D. and OB/GYN and Medical Director for RealOptions, begins her testimony. She explains how RealOptions offers the APR protocol to women who have taken the first abortion pill but have regrets and want to try to continue their pregnancies.

Heartbeat International President Jor-El Godsey finishes his testimony. Jor-El testifies that, “Every day we answer the phone for women who are regretting their decision of taking that first pill of the chemical abortion, looking for an answer… We know our information is good. We know that lives have been saved.”

Professor Briony Swire-Thompson, Ph.D., California’s “misinformation” expert, testifies. The State claims APR is “false advertising,” yet scientific evidence supports APR claims. Thomas More attorneys explain more here.

Heartbeat International President Jor-El Godsey takes the stand to give testimony and explains that Heartbeat receives no kickback or payment but simply answers the call from women who call our hotline in tears, know they’ve made a mistake, and want a chance to continue their pregnancies and meet their babies.

David Glidden, Ph.D statistics expert for the State, testifies.

Dr. Mitchel Creinin continues his testimony.

Related: Thomas More Society writes about “10 Moments California’s Case Against Abortion Pill Reversal Collapsed—During Its Own Abortion Expert’s Testimony – California hoped Dr. Mitchell Creinin would dismantle the science behind APR. Under cross-examination, the cracks in their case showed.”

Heartbeat International clarifies what’s at stake in the lawsuit and asks supporters for prayer.

Danielle White, General Counsel for Heartbeat International, writes how “[p]oliticians who routinely invoke the language of ‘choice’ now seek to suppress information that women are seeking.”

Attorneys for the State of California and Heartbeat International and RealOptions make their opening arguments. Dr. Mitchel Creinin, the State’s medical expert, also begins testimony.

In his opening argument, Paul M. Jonna, Special Counsel for Thomas More Society and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP, states, “This case asks whether the State can punish truthful information about a free service as commercial fraud. By the end of this trial, the evidence will show that it cannot—for reason after independent reason.” Thomas More publishes the opening statement on its website.

Related: In Heartbeat International’s press statement, President Jor-El Godsey notes: “California claims to fight for women's choices. But seeking the 'death penalty' in fines to silence the charity she calls when she changes her mind is not freedom — it's control. No mom should be denied the chance to save her own baby's life. Heartbeat will always fight for a mother’s right to know and her right to choose life.”

• June 24: Trial begins

• Litigation on the merits of the case is proceeding.

• April 15, 2026 moved to April 29, 2026: People v. Heartbeat International, et al. hearing on both parties’ motions for summary judgment.

• June 2024: Court denies Heartbeat's challenges to jurisdiction and to the complaint after the initial hearing.

• February 2024: Thomas More Society filed a response asking the California Superior Court to throw out the lawsuit.

• October 2023: Heartbeat International and RealOptions team up with Thomas More Society to defend Abortion Pill Reversal.

• September 2023: California Attorney General Rob Bonta files a complaint in the California Superior Court against Heartbeat International and RealOptions Obria to censor life-saving information from women regarding Abortion Pill Reversal, despite compelling evidence of progesterone’s safety and effectiveness.