Law And Civil Rights News

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law-and-civil-rights7 months ago

Court Blocks Trump Policy Limiting Trans and Nonbinary US Passports

A federal court has expanded a preliminary injunction to protect all transgender, nonbinary, and intersex US passport holders from the Trump administration's policy requiring sex designations on passports to match birth sex, allowing them to obtain or update passports with gender identity or an 'X' marker, marking a significant legal victory against discrimination.

law-and-civil-rights1 year ago

"Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida's Pronoun Law, Upholds Trans Teacher's Rights"

A federal judge in Florida has temporarily blocked a law that prohibited transgender teachers from using pronouns that don’t align with their birth sex, ruling that it violates their First Amendment rights. The law, known as the "Don’t Say Gay" law, also prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity and restricts health education. The judge granted a temporary injunction for one transgender teacher, Katie Wood, and is expected to rule on the state's motion to dismiss the case brought by Wood and two other teachers.

law-and-civil-rights2 years ago

Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Arkansas Law Criminalizing Access to 'Harmful' Books for Librarians

A federal judge in Arkansas has temporarily blocked a state law that would have made it a crime for librarians and booksellers to provide minors with materials deemed "harmful." The law was challenged by bookstores, libraries, and patrons who argued that it violated individual liberties and the First Amendment. The judge issued a preliminary injunction, stating that the law would encourage censorship and that the definition of "harmful" materials was overly vague. The law would have allowed anyone to challenge the appropriateness of materials in libraries, potentially forcing librarians to remove books or face criminal charges. The ACLU of Arkansas celebrated the court's decision, emphasizing the importance of defending freedom of speech and thought.

law-and-civil-rights2 years ago

Arkansas Judge Halts Law Criminalizing Librarians for 'Harmful' Materials

A federal judge in Arkansas has temporarily blocked a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would have also created a new process to challenge library materials. The judge's ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition that included the Central Arkansas Library System, arguing that the law could lead to self-censorship. The judge rejected a motion to dismiss the case and stated that the law violated the Constitution and wrongly targeted librarians. The decision is seen as a victory for First Amendment rights and a setback for conservative efforts to restrict access to books.