Federal judge strikes down Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act”

A federal judge has struck down the higher-education provisions of Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act,” a controversial 2022 law aimed at restricting how instructors and employees can talk about certain race- and gender-related concepts.

The ruling found the law’s restrictions unconstitutional, concluding that the provisions improperly interfere with speech in public university classrooms. The decision also emphasized First Amendment concerns, including the risk that broad wording would chill or limit what professors can say and discuss with students.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had championed the law, framing it as a way to stop “indoctrination” and ensure students are not taught ideas the state considers discriminatory. Supporters argued it was designed to limit endorsement of specific concepts, while opponents said the law effectively gags educators and targets viewpoints rather than regulating actual wrongdoing.

The judge’s decision comes after an injunction by a lower court had already blocked implementation in college classrooms during the ongoing legal battle. The ruling also notes that courts have taken different approaches with other parts of the law—while the higher-education provisions were struck down, the K-12 public school provisions have remained in effect at least for now.

Civil liberties groups and legal advocates celebrated the decision as a “huge victory” for academic freedom and for First Amendment protections in higher education.