Appeals court won't consider lifting ban on Texas law that would require book ratings

A federal appeals court has declined to consider overturning its January ruling that blocked Texas from enforcing a Republican-championed law that would force booksellers to rate books for sexual content if they plan to sell to school libraries, Reuters reports. Tuesday's move by New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a victory for booksellers and First Amendment champions, who argued Texas' so-called READER Act violated constitutional protections for free speech. Plaintiffs in the book industry also maintained the rating system would make it too burdensome for independent businesses to sell to schools.