Judge continues to block Florida officials from threatening TV stations over abortion ads

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A national judge connected Tuesday continued to artifact nan caput of Florida’s wellness section from taking immoderate much steps to threaten TV stations that aerial commercials for an abortion authorities measurement connected adjacent week’s ballot.

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker extended a impermanent restraining order, siding pinch Floridians Defending Freedom, nan group that created nan ads promoting nan ballot mobility that would adhd abortion authorities to nan authorities constitution if it passes Nov. 5.

Walker handed down nan determination from nan chair aft proceeding arguments from attorneys for nan run and authorities officials. The bid extends a erstwhile 1 that bars State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo from taking immoderate further action to coerce aliases intimidate broadcasters that tally nan commercials.

Walker said extending nan impermanent restraining bid will springiness him much clip to norm connected nan preliminary injunction that nan abortion authorities run is requesting.

The group revenge the lawsuit aft Ladapo and John Wilson, who was past nan apical lawyer astatine nan authorities wellness section earlier resigning unexpectedly, sent a missive to TV stations connected Oct. 3 telling them to extremity moving an abortion authorities ad, asserting that it was mendacious and dangerous. The missive besides says broadcasters could look criminal prosecution.

The advertisement astatine rumor features a female named Caroline Williams who said Florida’s existent rule — which bans astir abortions aft six weeks — would person barred her from getting nan process that her doctors said was needed to widen her life, aft she was diagnosed pinch terminal encephalon crab successful 2022. Her providers wouldn’t spell guardant pinch her crab curen while she was still pregnant.

The determination Walker handed down connected Tuesday extends an Oct. 18 bid barring authorities officials from “trampling” connected nan free reside authorities of those they disagree with.

“The authorities cannot excuse its indirect censorship of governmental reside simply by declaring nan disfavored reside is ‘false,’” nan judge said successful nan erstwhile order.

He added, “To support it elemental for nan State of Florida: it’s nan First Amendment, stupid.”

Tuesday’s proceeding is nan latest improvement successful an ongoing conflict betwixt advocates for abortion authorities and officials successful nan management of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has waged his ain state-funded campaign to artifact nan ballot measure.

If approved by 60% of Florida voters, nan law amendment would protect nan correct to an abortion until fetal viability, considered to beryllium location past 20 weeks. The measurement would override existent authorities law, which bans astir abortions aft six weeks, earlier galore women cognize they’re pregnant.

In nan weeks starring up to nan election, DeSantis has held taxpayer-funded, campaign-style rallies pinch doctors and belief leaders to advocator against nan projected amendment. Four authorities agencies person group speech millions of dollars successful nationalist costs to create their ain commercials railing against nan abortion measurement and different projected law amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana usage successful nan authorities — a move that critics opportunity violates a authorities rule that bars authorities officials from utilizing their nationalist agency for electioneering.

___ Kate Payne is simply a corps personnel for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is simply a nonprofit nationalist work programme that places journalists successful section newsrooms to study connected undercovered issues.