Judge Lets California’s K-12 Antisemitism Law Take Effect After Free-Speech Challenge Fails

Overview

• U.S. District Judge Noël Wise denied a preliminary injunction, allowing AB 715 to take effect on Jan. 1 after finding public-school teachers lack First Amendment protection for classroom speech.
• The court rejected claims that the statute is unconstitutionally vague about antisemitism, noting it cites federal guidance without enacting a standalone definition.
• Plaintiffs represented by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee plan to appeal to the Ninth Circuit, and Judge Wise set a Jan. 27 conference to determine next steps.
• AB 715 establishes a new state Office for Civil Rights and an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator and requires curricula to be factually accurate and nonpartisan, with key appointments and setup still pending.
• Legislators indicated potential cleanup language this session regarding references to the Biden administration’s antisemitism strategy, as teachers’ groups warn the law could chill criticism of Israel.