The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and a coalition of plaintiffs that includes the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, secured a preliminary injunction in the state’s so-called “Buffer Law.”
U.S. Southern District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II found the 25-foot Buffer Law is unconstitutionally vague.
“Simply being within twenty-five feet of a police officer is not a crime, and indeed, important First Amendment rights are regularly exercised within twenty-five feet of law enforcement every single day,” Sweeney said.
The Buffer Law went into effect in 2023 despite strong objection from private citizens, members of the media and organizations including the ACLU.
In his decision, Sweeney wrote “Plaintiffs have shown that they are likely to succeed on their claim that the Buffer Law is void for vagueness and therefore unconstitutional.”
Sweeney granted the injunction September 27.
The Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists applauds this action.
Click here to read the judge’s decision.