"Arizona Court Overturns Police Filming Restrictions"
A federal judge in Arizona has ruled that a state law limiting how close people can get to recording law enforcement is unconstitutional, citing a violation of the First Amendment right to film police. The law, signed by former Governor Doug Ducey in 2022, would have made it illegal to film officers within 8 feet if told to stop. The ruling permanently blocks enforcement of the law, which had already been suspended. Media groups and the ACLU successfully sued to block the law, and prominent law enforcement officials refused to defend it. Bystander cellphone videos have played a crucial role in exposing police misconduct, and the law was criticized for potentially impeding journalists' ability to cover protests.