A Leon County judge has rejected a request to prevent the state Agency for Health Administration from sharing what critics call “misinformation” about the proposed abortion rights amendment.
Judge Jonathan Sjostrom stated that the court should not intervene in the political process, and it’s ultimately up to the voters to decide what information they find relevant.
The lawsuit was filed by Floridians Protecting Freedom, the committee behind the amendment, claiming the agency used public resources to spread inaccurate information about the proposal. The agency’s website contained statements like “Current Florida Law Protects Women, Amendment 4 Threatens Women’s Safety.”
The judge acknowledged the concerns about the accuracy of the information but emphasized that the court’s role isn’t to determine the truthfulness of campaign materials. He also pointed out that Floridians Protecting Freedom hadn’t demonstrated sufficient legal standing to challenge the agency’s actions.
The proposed amendment aims to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and is a response to a restrictive law passed last year. The state argued that the agency has a right to express its views on a matter of public concern.
While this ruling allows the state agency to continue its campaign, the final decision on the amendment rests with the voters in the upcoming November election.
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