First Amendment: Iowa ag-gag law suffers defeat in federal court
A federal district judge ruled Iowa’s ag-gag law unconstitutional. The law imposed criminal penalties on journalists or animal rights activists going undercover to investigate animal abuse in agricultural facilities. An ACLU director hailed the decision as an important free speech victory, “It [the ag-gag law] has effectively silenced advocates and ensured that animal cruelty, unsafe food safety practices, environmental hazards, and inhumane working conditions go unreported for years.” (Courthouse News Service, January 9, 2019, by Rox Laird)
Iowa argued in court that the law against undercover investigations were valid under the constitution since they protected “biosecurity and private property protections.” (Des Moines Register, January 9, 2019, by Donnelle Eller and Lucas Grundmeier)