Idaho counsel explains a court ruling’s limits

A trustee asked whether the ruling gives the board "any more rights to remove" harmful material and what it means for acquisitions. Counsel said it does not give "any additional authority to do anything because the state law still exists," and that "you can't force us to buy a book," so a library cannot be sued for not buying one. Counsel said removal is different because it invites a claim that the government disagreed with the message.

In responsive public comment on August 20, a trustee said comments at earlier meetings were "absolutely false" and said commenters use freedom as an excuse "to promote grooming other people's children." On September 17, one commenter said "I'm not a liar" and that they belong to the Library Alliance of North Idaho. Another said a trustee had called them "a groomer" and that whether the remarks damaged their reputation is "best left to the courts." These are the speakers' own statements and claims.