A Florida judge ruled that a seven-year-old girl must testify in a lawsuit over a local board’s policy on removing and restricting books in school libraries.
The young girl and her mother, Ann Novakowski, are part of a lawsuit against the Escambia County School Board. The lawsuit argues that the board’s policy on restricting books, which was enacted to comply with a state law, is unconstitutional.
Novakowski tried to prevent her daughter from having to testify at the request of the Escambia County School Board, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Zachary Bolitho said that the girl, identified by her initials, J.N., can provide unique and first-hand insight about how the books bans have impacted her.
“Only J.N. can testify as to her thoughts, interests, desires, and efforts to access the books at issue in this case,” Judge Bolitho wrote in his order. “And those issues are critical ones in this case, especially as it relates to J.N.’s standing to bring this lawsuit.”
Bolitho said the girl’s deposition can last for up to 90 minutes and that one of her parents can be present while she is questioned.
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