Federal Judge Strikes Down Arkansas Law Threatening Librarians with Jail

The ruling deemed key provisions of Act 372 unconstitutional for violating First Amendment rights, with state leaders planning to appeal.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks ruled that Sections 1 and 5 of Arkansas Act 372 are unconstitutional due to their vague and overly broad language.
Section 1 imposed potential jail time on librarians and booksellers for providing minors access to materials deemed 'harmful,' which the judge found violated First Amendment protections.
Section 5, which created a burdensome process for challenging library materials, was also struck down for imposing content-based restrictions on free speech.
The law, signed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023, faced strong opposition from librarians, booksellers, and civil liberties groups who argued it would lead to censorship and a chilling effect on intellectual freedom.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced plans to appeal the ruling, while advocacy groups celebrated the decision as a victory for free expression and access to information.