A three-judge panel Monday ruled that the “Stop Woke Act,” backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, “exceeds the bounds” of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a ruling that blocked Florida from enforcing a law, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, that restricts how private companies teach diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled Monday that the “Stop Woke Act” “exceeds the bounds” of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression in its attempts to regulate workplace trainings on race, color, sex and national origin. The appeals court upheld a federal judge’s August 2022 ruling that said the same.

“By limiting its restrictions to a list of ideas designated as offensive, the Act targets speech based on its content. And by barring only speech that endorses any of those ideas, it penalizes certain viewpoints — the greatest First Amendment sin,” Judge Britt C. Grant wrote in Monday’s opinion.

The “Stop Woke Act” was approved by the Republican-controlled Florida legislature in March 2022. The act was one of DeSantis’s top priorities, and before he dropped out as a possible candidate for president in 2024, it was a routine talking point on the campaign trail.

  • Cheradenine@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    52·
    8 months ago

    I wish there was some kind of legislation where someone puts forth things that will obviously get struck down has to pay all costs personally.

    Like a corollary to SLAPP suits.

  • TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
    305·
    8 months ago

    Conservatives on the Supreme Court:

    Amy:

    What even is the “First Amendment”?

    Brett:

    Pass me the ass drugs and my boofin’ kit. I’m feeling like denying some basic rights tonight!

    Sam:

    Surely, some 13th-century South American tribal justice will have some insight into this!

    Clarence:

    Dudes, my pubes are huge! Plus, I got a date on a yacht with my man, Crow. He’s got a list of my latest bills to pay off, and I need a couple done by Friday.

    Neil:

    Whatever, guys. Just tell me what way to vote on this. Coming up with “textualism” or whatever the hell that means is getting harder.

    John:

    Just like racism, all the hatred for whatever this covers has magically disappeared, and this law should stand. Excuse me while I go look at my scrap book of 2000 and all the fun we had with chads.