U.S. appeals court blocks Texas law that could ban or restrict library books
A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that would require ratings from booksellers that deal with school libraries, agreeing with a lower court that found it unconstitutional.
A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that would require ratings from booksellers that deal with school libraries, agreeing with a lower court that found it unconstitutional.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, said in a decision published Wednesday that the state could not violate the Constitution.
“We agree with the State that it has an interest in protecting children from harmful library materials. But ‘neither [the State] nor the public has any interest in enforcing a regulation that violates federal law,'” the appeals court wrote.
The decision bars the Texas Education Agency from enforcing the law.
Those who sued to block the Texas law, which include bookstores and associations representing authors and publishers, said that the appeals court decision was historic and that it protects authors and lets parents make decisions about their children without government interference.
Rating: 5