"The ACLU said that 40 Days for Life was the greatest threat to 'choice' because it is highly organized and effective. The only way they can get rid of 40 Days for Life is to get rid of free speech. That is exactly what they're trying to do."
-- Shawn Carney, CEO & President, 40 Days for Life
The overturning of Roe drew new battle lines of the abortion debate, roughly dividing the County equally between States that promote abortion and those that ban or greatly restrict it. Once the lines were drawn, the battle became much more legalistic, with uncountable legal challenges and unprecedented attacks on pro-lifers nationwide and worldwide. The request for legal support exploded so 40 Days for Life leadership responded by establishing The Institute of Law & Justice (“IL&J”) within 40 Days for Life itself. During each campaign we average three requests per day for legal assistance; as well as approximately one law enforcement contact per day.
The requests for assistance traverse a wide range of legal issues, including: Buffer Zones, attacks, threats, municipal permitting, theft, trespass, harassment, vandalism and the like. This is not to mention the blatant targeting of pro-life volunteers by the DOJ and FBI. Regular interaction with state, local and federal officials is required. The need for expert litigation is more required than ever before in the pro-life movement.
The very purpose of the Institute of Law & Justice is to provide as much direct legal support to the vigils and leaders, while minimizing the need for outside counsel. Prior to the Institute of Law & Justice, most campaign legal matters that required active counsel participation and litigation were referred to outside counsel with an overwhelming workload. In the current climate we must do better to protect free speech because if corporate America gets superior lawyers, the unborn deserve even better - they have no voice but ours. Hence, the Institute of Law & Justice was born.
Watch the full testimony here starting at 0.13 to 1.13. Also, you can find a Q&A portion of his testimony linked here.
In addition to working with a network of professional attorneys nationwide, the IL&J is fortunate to have attorneys with extensive corporate, Ivy League, and DOJ backgrounds with vast litigation experience. Our lawyers have litigated thousands of cases and over 400 jury trials. Our team is committed to one goal when protecting pro-life advocates -- winning.
Dwight is originally from Atlanta, GA where he spent the first 18 years of his life. The son of Attorney Gregory D. Artis Sr., Dwight has always had an interest in becoming a trial attorney. After graduating from high school Dwight was accepted to The Citadel which is a historic military college located in Charleston South Carolina.
While attending The Citadel, Dwight thrived and was successful at gaining leadership experiences in the Corps of Cadets as well succeeding in academia earning a B.A. in English Lit. with honors. While at The Citadel, Dwight also felt the urge to serve his country so he decided to join the Army National Guard. While honorably serving in South Carolina Dwight was qualified as a 13 Bravo artillery gunner.
After graduation Dwight attended The University of Wisconsin Law School. During his second year Dwight’s army unit was activated for a deployment. Dwight took a year off of law school and was deployed to Iraq where he proudly served as a member of Delta Company 132nd Red Arrow unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dwight accepted an internship with the Rock County Public Defender’s office in Southern Wisconsin and became passionate about the field of criminal law. After moving to Omaha, Dwight became a prosecutor and served the people of Nebraska as a City of Omaha Assistant City Attorney, an Assistant Douglas County Attorney, and a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Recently, Dwight has joined the ILJ from the DOJ out of Nashville, Tennessee.
A physician and attorney, Donato J. Borrillo serves as the Assistant General Counsel and Director of Medical Legal Affairs for 40 Days for Life’s Institute of Law and Justice.
Dr. Borrillo is a Board Certified (preventive medicine) practicing physician, licensed in ten (10) states. His medical background directly complements 40 Days for Life's Mission to offer compassionate alternatives to abortion. Dr. Borrillo also routinely provides guidance on the off-label use of progesterone and Abortion Pill Reversal (“APR”).
He is a leading medical and legal expert in medicines/pharmaceuticals, women’s health, pregnancy health and the health of the Unborn, Constitutional Law, Pharmaceutical Law regarding research, development, approval, distribution and labeling and the representation of large groups, essential to protect the rights of pro-life advocates.
Dr. Borrillo also brings a wealth of practical experience as a long-time campaign co-leader and co-operator of a Pregnancy Resource Center with his wife, Leisa.
Dr. Borrillo earned his law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, and his undergraduate degree from Canisius College. He also holds two master's degrees in science, one in immunology from Roswell Park Cancer Institute and another in aerospace medicine from a NASA grant program. After completing his medical residency, he served for nine years in the United States Air Force as a Major and Flight Surgeon. His distinguished military service includes receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Joint Meritorious Service Award; he was named Special Operations Flight Surgeon of the Year; and he was also a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University.
Dr. Borrillo's Catholic Faith is a cornerstone of his professional and personal life. He resides in Florida with his wife and family.
Matt serves as the board secretary and general counsel for 40 Days for Life. Matt has had an expansive legal career, including four terms as an elected prosecutor; a county attorney; counsel to many not-for-profits and U.S. companies operating around the world; a major law firm litigator; and general counsel. Matt has written and spoken countless times on a wide range of legal and pro-life issues in locations across the United States as well as England, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, Korea, Singapore, Brazil, China, and locations across the European Union.
Matt graduated from Boston College, and holds a Masters
Degree in Forensic Science from George Washington University and a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Most importantly, Matt is married to Libby Britton, and they have eight beautiful children and six grandchildren.
Tomislav is based in Frankfurt, Germany, and serves as the Executive Director for International Affairs. Tomislav is a seasoned litigator,
winning multiple pro-life cases in the EU. He has practiced law in Germany since 2008 after studying law in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands with a focus on international and human rights law. He has handled a wide variety of matters and litigation in both business and pro-life law. Tomislav has served as legal counsel to several German and Croatian pro-life NGOs and pro-life activists. Tomislav is married to the former Colombian national 40 Days for Life leader, Pamela.
Lauren graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Lauren holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she was a member of the Speech and Debate Team and a Public Policy Tallahassee State Legislative Fellow. She also holds a Masters Degree in Applied American Politics and Policy from Florida State University, where she served as a Fellow with the Florida House of Representatives Majority Office.
Lauren served as a summer Clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and served on the Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Lauren has extensive experience with numerous nonprofit organizations in various roles and following the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v Wade, Lauren knew she wanted to use her skills to further her dedication to protecting the Unborn.
Lauren obtained her FAA Private Pilot’s License in 2015.
Above all, Lauren is a practicing member of the Catholic Church, wife to Kyle Hogan, and mother to their two children.
After graduating from Duke Law School in 2015, Jennifer practiced white-collar criminal defense and investigations, international trade controls law, and securities litigation at two major law firms before taking a short break from her legal career in 2022 to raise her two young daughters. She joined the 40 Days for Life ILJ team in the fall of 2024 to advise on corporate compliance matters.
Jennifer has substantial compliance experience, including advising large companies, financial institutions, and nonprofit corporations on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, sanctions and export control regulations, and anti-money laundering laws. During her time in private practice, she also engaged in substantial immigration work on a pro bono basis, helping several minors receive Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
Jennifer's passion for the unborn arose soon after her first daughter was born. Since then, she participated in several 40 Days for Life vigils in The Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, Stephen, and their two girls. She and her husband are both graduates of Colgate University.
For over 20 years, April has worked to give victims a voice in the law. She began her career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in a large jurisdiction that allowed her to work with victims affected by violent crime. The perspective she gained led to her owning and operating her own law firm for 15 years that provided the opportunity to work with abused and neglected children as a Guardian ad Litem.
In addition, April’s experience includes serving as an elected Prosecuting Attorney in multiple jurisdictions where she furthered her work to gain justice for victims. She also expanded her practice over the years to represent numerous municipalities, counties and state government agencies. April has experience with all aspects of the criminal justice system and complex civil litigation. She has worked with grand juries, tried over 30 jury trials and litigated hundreds of evidentiary hearings. April is grateful to put her experience to work for the most vulnerable victims, the unborn.
April graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Communication from William Jewell College and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia, School of Law. In her free time, April enjoys spending time with her husband, Brad and their 3 children.
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