Arkansas Judge Halts Law Criminalizing Librarians for 'Harmful' Materials

A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking 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 fear of prosecution could lead to self-censorship. The ACLU of Arkansas, representing some of the plaintiffs, praised the court's decision, stating that it protects First Amendment rights. This case is part of a broader trend of conservative states seeking to restrict access to books.