A federal judge in Arkansas ruled on Monday that parts of a state law aimed at criminally charging librarians and booksellers for providing harmful materials to minors are unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks said that parts of the law were not allowed under the Constitution.
I respect the court’s ruling and will appeal, said Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.
The law would have made it easier to challenge library materials and demand they be moved to areas where children couldn’t access them. It was signed into law by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023, but a previous ruling temporarily blocked it while it was being reviewed in court.
Judge Brooks said the law would put too much pressure on librarians and booksellers, causing them to only offer books suitable for young children out of fear of facing criminal charges.
A group that included the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock challenged the law, arguing it would make libraries and booksellers afraid to carry books that might be questioned. Holly Dickson, from the ACLU of Arkansas, said this was a victory for freedom, showing that libraries and booksellers stood up to unfair pressure.
Supporters of the law, including Governor Sanders, said they believe it’s important to stop kids from accessing inappropriate materials. Sanders said she and the Attorney General would appeal the ruling to enforce the law.
The ruling comes at a time when some lawmakers in conservative states are pushing for laws to make it easier to ban or challenge certain books, similar to measures passed in other states like Iowa, Indiana, and Texas.