A federal judge has ruled that the Escambia County School Board can proceed with deposing a 7-year-old student involved in a lawsuit challenging the board’s removal and restriction of school library books.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Zachary Bolitho denied a request from the child’s mother, Ann Novakowski, who sought a protective order to shield her child, identified as J.N., from testifying.
Bolitho stated that by involving a young child as a plaintiff, it should have been expected that the child would be required to testify.
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The judge acknowledged the sensitive nature of deposing a child and limited the deposition to 90 minutes with the option for a parent to be present. He emphasized the necessity of J.N.’s testimony, stating that only the child could speak to their own thoughts, interests, and efforts to access the disputed books, which are crucial to the lawsuit’s claims.
The lawsuit, filed by a group of plaintiffs, including Novakowski and J.N., alleges that the Escambia County School Board’s actions violated First Amendment rights by removing or restricting access to various library books.
The case has garnered significant attention as Escambia County becomes a focal point in the ongoing debate about book bans in schools.
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