Florida Right to Read Decision is a Positive Far Beyond the State
August 22, 2025
EveryLibrary celebrates the decision last week by U.S. District Court Judge Carlos E. Mendoza in the case of Penguin Random House LLC v. Gibson, which reaffirms the First Amendment and the fundamental right to read. Judge Mendoza struck down significant portions of Florida House Bill 1069, finding that its vague and overly broad prohibitions on books that “describe sexual conduct” violated the Constitution. In his opinion, he noted that the law allowed parents to object under an “I know it when I see it” standard, forcing educators and librarians to guess what might be deemed “unsuitable,” thereby chilling access to entire collections.