Utah Ag-Gag Law Overturned by Judge

A federal judge has officially overturned a 2012 Utah law that made a criminal offense of lying to access a farm and filming once inside.  Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report said that makes it the second “ag-gag” law to be struck down for violating the First Amendment.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals brought suit against the law.  In a ruling issued late last week, a District Court judge found that the state undoubtedly has an interest in addressing threats to the state’s agricultural industry.

The decision is similar to a ruling from a district court judge in Idaho in 2015.  That case is currently before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals after that state appealed a lower court’s ruling that found the law unconstitutional.  Oral arguments took place in May of this year and a final order could possibly come at any time.

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