A federal judge in Arkansas has struck down key parts of a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors. The law would have established a process to challenge library materials and relocate them to areas not accessible by children. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has vowed to appeal the ruling.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks found elements of the law unconstitutional, stating that it deputizes librarians and booksellers as agents of censorship. The law, signed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023, had been temporarily blocked from taking effect pending the outcome of the court challenge.
A coalition, including the Central Arkansas Library System, had challenged the law, arguing that fear of prosecution could lead to self-censorship among libraries and bookstores. The ACLU of Arkansas praised the ruling as a victory over totalitarianism.
Supporters of the law, known as Act 372, argue that it is common sense to restrict access to obscene material for children. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders plans to appeal the ruling and uphold the state’s law.
The ruling comes as conservative lawmakers in other states are also pushing for measures to ban or restrict access to certain books. Similar laws have been enacted in Iowa, Indiana, and Texas. The battle over censorship and access to books continues to be a contentious issue across the country.
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