Conservative-dominated court restores books denounced by officials as ‘pornographic filth’ to school libraries

An appellate court has ruled that Texas cannot ban books from libraries simply because they mention “butt and fart” and other content which some state officials may dislike.

The fifth US circuit court of appeals issued its decision on Thursday in a 76-page majority opinion, which was written by Judge Jacques Wiener Jr and opened with a quote from American poet Walt Whitman: “The dirtiest book in all the world is the expurgated book.”

In its decision, the appellate court declared that “government actors may not remove books from a public library with the intent to deprive patrons of access to ideas with which they disagree”.

    • vortic@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      The primary opinion is only 27 pages. The rest is a three page concurrence a 46 page dissent by Duncan.

    • subignition@fedia.io
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      5 months ago

      for extra effect, I recommend reading through the opinion first before imagining. The high quality of the writing really accentuates the ludicrous degree of clown shit on display from the GOP.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      To be fair, he didn’t have to make it that long.

      On the other hand, we wouldn’t have gotten this:

      • Seven “butt and fart” books, with titles like I Broke My Butt! and Larry the Farting Leprechaun;