Full Fifth Circuit Weighs First Amendment Shield for Libraries

A conservative federal appeals court wrestled with whether a public librarian’s decision to pull controversial titles from a Texas county’s library shelves is immune from First Amendment scrutiny.

The en banc US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday questioned a lawyer for Llano County residents challenging the removal of 17 books about whether, and to what extent, librarians can decide whether a title should remain available based on its content and viewpoint.

The books covered topics including transgender issues, race and slavery in the United States, and bodily functions from puberty to flatulence.

The case is one ...