:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-cmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4FPRIFEQFL2QP7QEHVFYRINLXU.jpg)
SEATTLE — A federal judge has blocked Washington state's cyberstalking law, saying it clearly prohibits speech that is protected by the First Amendment.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton in Tacoma issued a preliminary injunction Friday. Leighton said Washington's 2004 law appears to violate the Constitution because it bans not just threats, but "a large range of non-obscene, non-threatening speech."
The judge said the law is so broad that it can be interpreted to bar even "public criticisms of public figures."
Bainbridge Island resident Richard L. Rynearson III sued in 2017. Rynearson said he had been threatened with prosecution by Kitsap County for writing critical posts online — posts that appeared to violate the cyberstalking law because they were designed to embarrass another person.
More news from KIRO 7
- KIRO 7 gets first look at new T-Mobile Park signage for Mariners ballpark
- Nike does damage control after Duke star forward blows out shoe, injures knee
- State Patrol: 22 arrested in 'Net Nanny' sting
- FORECAST: Rain, wet snow Friday
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Associated Press
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/03-07-2024/t_a04eea43993e4d4a91177d329640b460_name_Tran_6p_Everett_Woman_homicide_LL_pkg_frame_22938.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DV3D5PBQIZFEPANBGDDAZHIA5I.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/BK3QCCLJEBDA3IHM6JEBCDIIZU.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/SJPHEIUFCFBN5CV66FIPLEJCZY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/PWNVBGLM65HJPKEVF2YKQHJQEE.png)