A federal judge has struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing so-called “harmful” materials to minors.

A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional two provisions of a state law aimed at criminalizing the furnishing of obscene materials to minors at public libraries and bookstores.

A federal district court has struck down key provisions of Arkansas's censorship law, Act 372, as they deemed the act as unconstitutional.With the striking down

A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked portions of Arkansas’ law that would have changed how librarians handle challenged materials and given elected officials the final say over what books are available to the public.

A federal judge declared parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers who provide "harmful" materials to minors unconstitutional on Monday. Why it matters: The law would have had a chilling effect on librarians and booksellers across the state because of its broad language and lack of precedent.

Section 1 of Act 372 sought to criminalize those working at a library or bookstore in Arkansas for “furnishing a harmful item to a minor.”

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Brooks on Monday (Dec. 23) issued an order striking down key provisions in Act 372, an attempt by the Arkansas Legislature to censor library