ACLU Sues After Arkansas Library Director Fired for Fighting Book Censorship

Saline County, Ark. — In a striking assertion of First Amendment rights, Patty Hector, the former library director of Saline County, along with the ACLU of Arkansas, have initiated a federal lawsuit against county officials. The suit claims Hector was terminated from her position in retaliation for her vocal opposition to what she perceived as censorship efforts within the public library system. Hector’s dismissal occurred in October 2023, directly following a period of heated public discourse that centered around the contents of the library’s children’s section. Earlier in the year, the Saline County Quorum Court … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds Parents’ Right to Challenge Library Book Restrictions in Crawford County

VAN BUREN, Ark. — In a ruling that could influence how public libraries across the nation manage their collections, a federal judge has confirmed that two parents were justified in their legal challenge against Crawford County for attempting to restrict access to books they deemed inappropriate. The decision undermines efforts to impose limitations on public access to certain library materials. The legal battle began when the parents, who remain unnamed, filed a lawsuit in response to what they saw as exposure to unsuitable content via the library’s selection. Their effort was to seek a measure … Read more

Arkansas Judge Overturns Key Sections of Controversial Library Law, Safeguarding Librarians’ Rights

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A federal judge has ruled against key components of an Arkansas law aimed at preventing the distribution of “obscene” materials to minors in libraries, citing concerns over free speech. The contentious law, which had prompted fears of criminal charges against librarians and educators for providing books deemed inappropriate, was partially blocked this week. The legislation, enacted earlier this year, was met with significant resistance from library groups and free speech advocates who argued that the measure could lead to unjust censorship and the chilling of educational and literary freedoms. These groups … Read more

Donald Trump’s Presidential Library to Receive $15 Million as Part of Settlement in Defamation Dispute Over Rape Allegation Claims

NEW YORK — In a significant legal settlement, ABC News has agreed to allocate $15 million to the planned presidential library of Donald Trump, as part of a resolution to a defamation lawsuit stemming from false statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding Trump’s legal battles with writer E. Jean Carroll. The network has also consented to cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump’s attorney, within an agreement disclosed this Saturday. The case revolved around allegations by Stephanopoulos during a broadcast of “This Week” on March 10. He inaccurately claimed that Trump had been … Read more