Supreme Court Revives Case of Texas Citizen Journalist

The court's decision challenges the application of qualified immunity for officers involved in the arrest of journalist Priscilla Villarreal.

Priscilla Villarreal, known as 'Lagordiloca,' was arrested in 2017 for soliciting nonpublic information from a police source in Laredo, Texas.
The arrest was based on a Texas statute that criminalizes seeking information with the intent to gain a benefit, a law ruled unconstitutionally vague by a state judge.
Villarreal's lawsuit against the police was previously dismissed due to qualified immunity, which shields officials unless they violate clearly established constitutional rights.
The Supreme Court's ruling vacates the previous decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, requiring them to reconsider the case with new guidance.
The case has garnered support from major news organizations, highlighting concerns over First Amendment rights for nontraditional journalists.