Injunction lifted on Iowa law restricting books in K-12 school libraries

The ruling by federal appeals court judges on Friday allows the Iowa law that bars school libraries from stocking books featuring sexually explicit content to be enforced.

The injunction on the law was lifted by the three-person panel, overturning the previous block set by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher in January. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit deemed Locher’s ruling flawed.

Under the 2023 law, school libraries are prohibited from providing books with content depicting sex acts, along with restrictions on teaching materials related to “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” for students from kindergarten to sixth grade. These provisions are now permitted to go into effect amidst ongoing legal challenges.

Various parties, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Lambda Legal, Iowa Safe Schools, and publisher Penguin Random House, along with authors affected by the removal of their books from school libraries, are contesting the law.

Iowa State Education Association President Joshua Brown expressed disappointment in the appeals court’s ruling, stating, “Banning essential books in our schools is a burden for our educators and students, depriving them of valuable stories.”

Critics argue that the law could limit access to classic literature such as “Brave New World” and “Ulysses,” but the majority of targeted books focus on race and LGBTQ+ topics, like “Gender Queer” and “The Color Purple.”

Educators have criticized the lack of clarity on the law’s guidelines, as the Iowa Department of Education has not responded to requests for defining “age-appropriate” materials. Noncompliance allegations will be handled on an individual basis by the state.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird hailed the court decision as a victory for parental rights, emphasizing the importance of ensuring appropriate educational content for children.

Governor Kim Reynolds echoed support for the court’s decision, emphasizing parental authority over age-appropriate book choices for children.

The lawsuit highlighted the district court’s failure to properly analyze the law’s compliance with established legal precedents, including the 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Moody v. NetChoice. The appeals court rejected the state’s argument that school library materials constitute “government speech” and affirmed a transgender student’s standing to challenge the law.

The ACLU of Iowa, Lambda Legal, and the Jenner & Block law firm, active plaintiffs in the lawsuit, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, particularly as the upcoming school year approaches.

The case will now be reevaluated in district court for further proceedings.