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Judge strikes down key parts of Florida law that led to removal of books from school libraries
The ruling challenges a 2023 law that led to 4,561 book removals in Florida schools, citing vague language and unconstitutional censorship under the First Amendment.
- On August 13, 2025, U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza ruled that key parts of Florida’s 2023 law HB 1069, which led to removing books from public school libraries, are unconstitutional due to vagueness and overbreadth.
- In August 2024, a lawsuit was initiated by a group including six publishers, the Authors Guild, several individual writers, and two families, contesting the law's procedures that enable parents to challenge books deemed pornographic or containing descriptions of sexual activity.
- Judge Mendoza wrote the statute lacks clarity on what constitutes prohibited sexual content, ignores a book’s overall value, and rejected the state’s claim that book removals are government speech immune from First Amendment scrutiny.
- Dan Novack of Penguin Random House praised the ruling as a major win for students' freedom to read and engage with ideas, while Jason Muehlhoff from the State Board of Education criticized it as a poor judgment.
- The decision requires schools to restore First Amendment protections by reverting to Supreme Court precedent on evaluating sexual content in books, potentially ending broad removal practices and shaping future content policies.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Part of Florida school book law ruled unconstitutional
Siding with publishers and authors, a federal judge Wednesday ruled that a key part of a 2023 Florida law that has led to books being removed from school library shelves is “overbroad and unconstitutional.”U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 50-page decision in a First Amendment lawsuit filed last year against members of the State Board of Education and the school boards in Orange and Volusia counties. He focused primarily on part of the…
Florida book removal, student pronoun laws unconstitutional: Judge
A Florida judge has ruled that the state’s law allowing books to be pulled from public schools is overly broad and unconstitutional, saying it violates the First Amendment. In a separate finding, the judge also said Florida’s law requiring teachers to use pronouns that match a student’s sex at birth amounts to discrimination, conflicting with federal protections against employment discrimination based on sex.
Judge strikes down major provisions in Florida 'book ban' law
A judge sided with major publishers, authors, parents, and students on a lawsuit against a 2023 Florida law meant to ban “pornographic” materials in school. Publishers call it a sweeping victory for the right to read, but warn there’s still more to be done at the local level. On Wednesday, Judge Carlos E. Mendoza sided with the plaintiffs on five out of seven counts, saying the state’s prohibition of material that describes sexual conduct is o…
Associated Press News
Judge strikes down key parts of Florida law that led to removal of books from school libraries
A federal judge has struck down key parts of a Florida law that allowed parents to remove books they found objectionable from public school libraries. U.S.
Part of School Book Law Ruled Unconstitutional
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Siding with publishers and authors, a federal judge Wednesday ruled that a key part of a 2023 Florida law that has led to books being removed from school library shelves is “overbroad and unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 50-page decision in a First Amendment lawsuit filed last year against members of the State Board of Education and the school boards in Oran…
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