Federal Judge Strikes Down Key Provisions of Arkansas Book Law

The ruling deemed sections of Act 372 unconstitutional, blocking criminal penalties for librarians and booksellers over 'harmful' materials for minors.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks ruled that sections of Arkansas Act 372 violated First Amendment protections and were unconstitutionally vague.
The law would have allowed criminal charges, including jail time, for librarians and booksellers providing materials deemed 'harmful' to minors.
The judge criticized the law for deputizing librarians and booksellers as censors, potentially limiting access to diverse materials out of fear of prosecution.
A coalition including the Central Arkansas Library System and the ACLU of Arkansas challenged the law, citing its chilling effect on free expression.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin plan to appeal the ruling, arguing the law aimed to protect children from obscene content.