A group of 10 scientists, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, has filed a petition against Sage Publications in California’s Ventura County Superior Court, seeking to compel arbitration over the publisher’s retraction of three abortion-related studies and removal of a researcher from an editorial board position.
The case, Studnicki v. Sage Publications, centers on three peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2022 in Sage’s Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology journal. The studies, led by Dr. James Studnicki, examined various aspects of abortion, including the safety of abortion medications. Initially well-received, the editor-in-chief had praised them as “fine contributions” to the journal.
What is Alliance Defending Freedom?
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, marriage and family, and the sanctity of life.
Alliance Defending Freedom Church & Ministry Alliance specializes in legal cases concerning religious institutions’ constitutional rights and operational autonomy, serving as a dedicated division of Alliance Defending Freedom.
The dispute emerged after two of the studies were cited in a federal court case, U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, challenging the FDA’s regulation of mifepristone, an abortion medication. Following this, an anonymous complaint was filed by a pro-abortion advocate, highlighting the authors’ affiliations with pro-life organizations.
Sage Publications subsequently retracted all three studies in February 2024, citing concerns about scientific rigor and what they termed a “compromised” peer review process. The publisher also removed Dr. Studnicki from the journal’s editorial board.
One of Sage’s key arguments for retraction centered on claims that the authors failed to declare their pro-life affiliations as conflicts of interest. The authors, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom and Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, contend that their pro-life affiliations were properly disclosed during the review process and that Sage’s actions were politically motivated rather than based on scientific merit.
The publisher’s criticism of its own peer-review process has also drawn attention. While Sage claimed the process was compromised because one reviewer had pro-life affiliations, this reviewer was selected by Sage itself as part of their double-blind review system, where reviewers and authors remain anonymous to each other. Other reviewers without pro-life affiliations had also recommended the studies for publication.
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Phil Sechler says politics should never sway science, especially when that science is vital for saving and protecting lives. In a statement on Alliance Defending Freedom Media, Sechler said, “Sage took action against these highly respected and credentialed scientists because they believe in preserving life from conception to natural death. Sage’s retractions have caused irreparable harm to the authors of these articles, and we are urging Sage to come to the arbitration table—as it is legally bound to do—rescind the retractions and remedy the reputational damage the researchers have suffered.”
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys argue that these actions amount to unjustified censorship that has not only damaged the authors’ academic standing but also limited public access to their research findings. In response, they filed a motion in October 2024 to compel arbitration, citing contractual obligations between Sage and the authors.
The matter is currently pending before the Superior Court of California, Ventura County.
Recent Comments