Judge: 'Choose Life' license plates OK

ALBANY -- A federal judge has ordered New York officials to allow custom license plates requested by an anti-abortion group that say "Choose Life," concluding their repeated refusal violated the free speech rights of the Children First Foundation.

But Judge Neal McCurn stayed his Tuesday order pending possible appeal.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles rejected the foundation's request for the custom plate series in 2002 on the grounds it would be perceived as governmental support for one side in the abortion controversy.

McCurn's ruling was being reviewed by the DMV and the state attorney general's office.

Federal appeals courts have been split in similar cases from other states, McCurn wrote.