U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Eleventh Circuit: Escambia school board members can be deposed over library book removal votes

A divided Eleventh Circuit panel on October 19, 2026, held that Escambia County, Florida, school board members cannot use legislative privilege to avoid depositions about why they voted to remove specific library books. Judge Andrew Brasher, joined by Judge Jill Pryor, ruled the votes applied existing policy and were administrative acts. Chief Judge William Pryor dissented. PEN America, Penguin Random House, authors and parents allege First Amendment violations.