On Monday, a unanimous US Supreme Court handed down its opinion in SBAL v. Driehaus, a case concerning the ability to bring pre-enforcement (or facial) challenges to laws that could violate First Amendment rights. FTRF was one of several organizations to join an amicus brief filed in March by Media Coalition.

The Court held in this case that the plaintiff's threat of prosecution was "sufficiently imminent" to allow it to move forward.  It will now return to the lower courts to proceed on other issues.  A full analysis of the opinion is available on SCOTUS Blog.

In a press release, Media Coalition executive director David Horowitz said, “We are gratified that the Court today recognized the immense harm that can occur when individuals are required to put their liberty at risk in order to vindicate their free speech rights. This decision affirms the principle that a person, organization or business should not have to risk prosecution to challenge the Constitutionality of a law.”

Media Coalition noted that the Court cited Virginia v. American Booksellers Association, one of many "mini-CDA" internet content cases in which FTRF and other Media Coalition members were plaintiffs, as an example of a case in which a "reasonable fear of prosecution" provided sufficient standing to challenge a statute (that was ruled unconstitutional). 

In April, FTRF provided a rundown of oral arguments in the case.  See also our press release from March after filing the amiucs.

Last week we were pleased to announce the seven winners of 2014 Banned Books Week event grants via FTRF's Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund.  These $1000 grants will be used to fund projects as varied as an Hispanic authors' banned literature symposium at a New Hampshire High School, an evening in Charleston (S.C) discussing the recent censorship of Fun Home at the local College of Charleston, the creation by Columbus State College in Ohio of an online "Open Books, Open Minds" exhibit, and much more.

Congratulations to this year's recipients! Stay tuned to our Banned Books Week 2014 page for updates on the projects as well as the videos and photos the recipients post after their events.

Three new trustees - journalist Kathy Ishizuka, educator Em Claire Knowles, and attorney Gretchen McCord  - will be joining the FTRF Board this summer! We're excited to have them involved, and just as excited to welcome back current president Julius Jefferson and past ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee chair Martin Garnar.  See our press release about the results.

They will be seated at the June 26 meeting in Las Vegas, and will be on the board to celebrate our 45th anniversary, which occurs later this year.  Other trustees on the 2014–2015 board are Helen Adams, Bob Doyle, Chris Finan, Herb Krug, Jim Neal, and Eva Poole, plus ex officio members Courtney Young, Sari Feldman, Keith Michael Fiels, and Doug Archer.

Please join us in congratulating them, and in thanking all the candidates and voters for a competitive election!