Jenner & Block Secures Pro Bono Victory in Huntington Beach Library Censorship Case

In a significant pro bono win, Jenner & Block successfully challenged a censorship policy at the City of Huntington Beach’s public libraries.  

On September 5, Orange County Superior Court Judge Lindsey Martinez granted the firm’s petition for writ of mandate, striking down a policy that required parental consent for minors to access books with "sexual content"—a definition so broad that it could have included health education materials, young adult novels, and even classic works of literature such as Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby

Filed with co-counsel partnering organizations ACLU of Southern California, the California First Amendment Coalition, and California Legal Aid, the case was brought on behalf of high school students, parents, and community advocacy organization Alianza Translatinx. 

The ruling marks a significant judicial interpretation of California’s Freedom to Read Act (FTRA), which prohibits public libraries from limiting access to materials based on their content or viewpoint. In rejecting the City’s arguments on home-rule authority and mootness, the court affirmed that Huntington Beach’s policies violated state law and were unenforceable. 

This outcome was the result of the dedicated work of Partners A.J. Thomas and Lauren Greene, Special Counsel Andrew Sullivan, Associates Sarah Lee, Laura Koeller, and Tyler Emeny, Supervising Paralegal Manuel Salas, Legal Practice Assistant Laura Saltzman, and former associate Eddie Crouse.  

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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Jenner & Block Secures Pro Bono Victory in Huntington Beach Library Censorship Case

In a significant pro bono win, Jenner & Block successfully challenged a censorship policy at the City of Huntington Beach’s public libraries.  

On September 5, Orange County Superior Court Judge Lindsey Martinez granted the firm’s petition for writ of mandate, striking down a policy that required parental consent for minors to access books with "sexual content"—a definition so broad that it could have included health education materials, young adult novels, and even classic works of literature such as Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby

Filed with co-counsel partnering organizations ACLU of Southern California, the California First Amendment Coalition, and California Legal Aid, the case was brought on behalf of high school students, parents, and community advocacy organization Alianza Translatinx. 

The ruling marks a significant judicial interpretation of California’s Freedom to Read Act (FTRA), which prohibits public libraries from limiting access to materials based on their content or viewpoint. In rejecting the City’s arguments on home-rule authority and mootness, the court affirmed that Huntington Beach’s policies violated state law and were unenforceable. 

This outcome was the result of the dedicated work of Partners A.J. Thomas and Lauren Greene, Special Counsel Andrew Sullivan, Associates Sarah Lee, Laura Koeller, and Tyler Emeny, Supervising Paralegal Manuel Salas, Legal Practice Assistant Laura Saltzman, and former associate Eddie Crouse.  

Related Capabilities

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

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