California’s Covid Misinformation Law Blocked by Federal Court

Federal courts in California are now split over the validity of a state law that defines spreading mis- or disinformation about Covid-19 as “professional misconduct” sanctionable by medical licensing boards.

Judge William B. Shubb, of the US District Court for the Eastern District of California, broke with Central District Judge Fred W. Slaughter and blocked the state from enforcing AB 2098. Slaughter allowed the law to take effect, and his ruling has been appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Shubb’s opinion reaches only the plaintiffs’ 14th Amendment due process challenge to the law, but the ...