[kids-lib] Today's Supreme Court Decisions Relate to Schools & Libraries

[MAURER Jennifer * SLO]

Please pardon this cross-posting. Hi, folks. I’m forwarding an email from my supervisor, Buzzy Nielsen, but I added some article quotes in brackets. – Best, Jen (Jen Maurer, School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon, jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov>)
From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of NIELSEN Buzzy * SLO via Libs-Or
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2025 9:25 AM
To: libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: [Libs-Or] Today's Supreme Court decisions

Hi folks,

Today the Supreme Court decided some cases that are library- and intellectual freedom-related. AP articles linked below.


  *   ⁠⁠Supreme Court says Maryland parents can pull their kids from public school lessons using LGBTQ books<https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-lgbtq-books-religion-maryland-schools-c0b0fb4b96531636fcb98b08aabc3cf9>

[“The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Maryland parents who have religious objections can pull their children from public school lessons using LGBTQ storybooks…The high court ruled that the schools likely could not require elementary school children to sit through lessons involving the books if parents expressed religious objections to the material. The lack of an ‘opt-out,’ Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court, ‘places an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.’ Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent for the three liberal justices that exposure to different views in a multicultural society is a critical feature of public schools…”]


  *   ⁠⁠Supreme Court OKs fee that subsidizes phone, internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas<https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-telecommunications-fee-internet-phone-bill-d02052fc7c4617eb0dd4f27cac680865>

[“The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the fee that is added to phone bills to provide billions of dollars a year in subsidized phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas. The justices, by a 6-3 vote, reversed an appeals court ruling that had struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund, the charge that has been added to phone bills for nearly 30 years…”]


  *   ⁠⁠Supreme Court upholds Texas law aimed at blocking kids from seeing pornography online<https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-porn-age-verification-texas-12a73197796fe8c4bef0d888259543cf>

[“The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a Texas law aimed at blocking children from seeing online pornography. Nearly half of the states have passed similar laws requiring adult websites users verify users’ ages to access pornographic material. The laws come as smartphones and other devices make it easier to access online porn, including hardcore obscene material…The age verification requirements fall on websites that have a certain amount of sexual material, not search engines or social-media sites that can be used to find it…”]

I’m not an attorney, so please don’t ask me to interpret! 😂 Seriously, though, I’m sure there will be further analysis of the effects of these decisions from folks who know what they’re talking about.

Cheers!

Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI (he/him/his)
Program Manager for Library Support and Tribal Liaison
State Library of Oregon
buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3486 (text ok)
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
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