Florida school board says 7-year-old must testify in book dispute. What’s going on?

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There’s a wild legal battle brewing in Florida. The Escambia County School Board is pushing to have a 7-year-old testify in a high-stakes lawsuit about book bans in schools. Yes, you read that right — a 7-year-old.

The school board is in a fight over its decision to remove and restrict certain books from school libraries. The lawsuit, filed by parents, authors, Penguin Random House, and PEN America, argues that the board’s actions violate First Amendment rights. The controversy includes the removal of books like “And Tango Makes Three,” which features a same-sex penguin couple raising a chick, and others that deal with gender identity and same-sex families.

Now, the school board is requesting that the young plaintiff, identified as J.N., be deposed — basically, questioned under oath. They argue that J.N. has unique insights into her own experience and how she’s been affected by the removal of these books. They believe her direct testimony could shed light on the case, as her mother might not fully capture J.N.’s personal perspective.

J.N.’s mother, Ann Novakowski, who is also a plaintiff in the case, is fighting against this deposition. She claims that her own testimony should suffice and that putting J.N. through a deposition could be both stressful and unnecessary. Novakowski’s legal team argues that the school board hasn’t proven why J.N.’s individual testimony is needed when her mother can provide the same information.

The school board, on the other hand, insists that they need to thoroughly examine the credibility and standing of all plaintiffs, including J.N., to effectively defend their actions. They argue that if J.N. is part of the lawsuit, she should also be part of the defense process.

This legal showdown underscores the broader debate about book bans and censorship in schools, a topic that's been heating up in various states. While the school board is focusing on defending its decisions, the plaintiffs — and many others watching — are worried about the impact on students and their access to diverse and inclusive literature.

What do you think about this situation? Should a 7-year-old be required to testify in such a case, or should the court rely on the testimony of the child’s parent? Drop your thoughts below and let’s dive into this complex issue together!