one Arkansas law backed by Republicans A federal judge on Monday blocked allowing criminal charges against librarians and booksellers who provide “harmful” or “obscene” material to minors in a ruling that declared some parts of the policy too vague And unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks for the Western District said: “The law designates librarians and booksellers as censors; when motivated by fear of jail time, they are likely to simply put books on their shelves books appropriate for young children and segregate or discard the rest,” the District of Arkansas wrote in its ruling.

Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Act 372, which would create new avenues to challenge library materials allegedly age-inappropriate and request their removal.

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An Arkansas law that criminalizes providing inappropriate material to minors faces challenges in court. (Via Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)

Brooks had previously temporarily blocked implementation of the law. According to local reportsThe bill is just days away from being scheduled to take effect, but this week it sided with 18 plaintiffs who argued that two key provisions of the law were too vague and violated First Amendment protections.

separate report Brooks took issue with one provision of the law because it gives anyone the power to challenge library decisions, including interest groups outside Arkansas.

Section 1, one of the provisions ruled unconstitutional, would impose misdemeanor penalties of up to one year in prison for librarians, booksellers and others who “make available” inappropriate media to minors.

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The plaintiff challenged Sections 1 and 5 of Arkansas Act 372. (Fox News Digital)

Article 5, another controversial provision, would require “libraries, city councils, and county quorum courts to follow new procedures when evaluating citizen requests to move or delete books from public libraries’ permanent collections.” According to Brooks’ ruling.

Brooks believes The regulations are too vague, particularly using terms such as “appropriate,” and do not provide clearer requirements for restricting access to books.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin told The Associated Press in a statement that he “respects the court’s ruling” but plans to appeal.

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Fox Digital News reached out to the attorney general’s office for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.