U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks stated that the Arkansas Act 372 was overly broad, violating First Amendment rights, and imposed undue censorship on librarians and booksellers.
The judge emphasized that Arkansas's law would lead librarians to 'shelve only books fit for young children' due to fears of legal repercussions, essentially acting as censorship.
After highlighting the legislative intent, Brooks noted that aiming to protect minors from inappropriate content comes at the expense of broader speech rights for all.
The ruling reflects a growing concern as many GOP-led states consider similar laws limiting access to materials, especially those addressing themes of race and sexuality.
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