Judge strikes down key parts of Florida law that led to removal of books from school libraries

Source: Scripps News/AP

Posted 4:18 PM, Aug 15, 2025


A federal judge has struck down key parts of a Florida law that helped parents get books they found objectionable removed from public school libraries and classrooms. It is a victory for publishers and authors who had sued after their books were removed.

U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza in Orlando said in Wednesday's ruling that the statute's prohibition on material that described sexual conduct was overbroad.

Mendoza, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, also said that the state's interpretation of the 2023 law was unconstitutional.

Among the books that had been removed from central Florida schools were classics like Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," Richard Wright's "Native Son" and Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five."

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/education/judge-strikes-down-key-parts-of-florida-law-that-led-to-removal-of-books-from-school-libraries