Goldman Ismail Represents Illinois Woman Forced to Undergo Induction of Labor While Incarcerated

Goldman Ismail is partnering with the ACLU of Illinois to represent a woman forced to undergo a non-consensual induction of labor when she gave birth in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). Together they filed a lawsuit in January the Central District of Illinois on behalf of Amy Hicks, who lives in downstate Illinois.

Ms. Hicks was well into her third trimester when she entered Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois in January 2024. IDOC staff and medical providers told her that she would be scheduled for an induction before her due date according to prison policy. Ms. Hicks repeatedly explained that she wished to go into labor spontaneously, as she had done for the births of her two older children.

Despite her clear and consistent objection to induction, Ms. Hicks was taken to a hospital and forced to undergo an induction, giving birth to her daughter two weeks before her due date.

Ms. Hicks’s complaint alleges her rights were violated under both the Fourteenth Amendment and the Illinois Reproductive Health Act, a law passed in 2019 that guarantees “fundamental rights of individuals to make autonomous decisions about [their] own reproductive health.” Ms. Hicks is suing IDOC, its medical services provider, and individual prison and medical staff members.

“IDOC’s policy and practice of deliberately disregarding women’s reproductive choices violates Illinois and federal law,” said partner Jennifer Greenblatt. “Every woman in Illinois, no matter her situation, is entitled to the same reproductive and constitutional rights.”

Ms. Hicks hopes her case will end IDOC’s illegal practice of forcing inductions. Her lawsuit has been covered by the Chicago Tribune, WTTW, and WGLT.

Along with Jennifer Greenblatt, Ms. Hicks is represented by Goldman Ismail partner Rami Fakhouri and associates Sarah Kinter and Julia Zasso.

Read the full ACLU press release here and an op-ed by Ms. Hicks in the Chicago Sun-Times here.