A federal judge has blocked a new law in Arizona that restricts the filming of police officers, siding with the Arizona Broadcasters Association, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and multiple media organizations who sued and argued that the law violated the First Amendment.
U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi granted plaintiffs a preliminary injunction to stop the law from going into effect (pdf).
Tuchi gave the Legislature a week to decide whether it wants to defend the law. The ACLU and media groups are seeking a permanent injunction.
Will Not Defend the Law
The law, HB 2319 (pdf), was set to take effect on Sept. 24. It was enacted by the Republican-controlled state legislature in June and signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey on July 6….