Huntington Beach’s censorship battle appears set to continue as the city prepares to appeal a court order to remove a youth-restricted books section at its public library branches.

The City Council recently voted in closed session to appeal the Orange County Superior Court’s ruling that the city’s book restriction policy violated the state’s Freedom to Read Act. Judge Lindsey Martinez ruled on Sept. 5 that the city can’t restrict minors from accessing books with sexual content at the Huntington Beach Central Library , a decision stemming from a February lawsuit filed by local nonprofit Alianza Translatinx and three Huntington Beach residents.

City Attorney Mike Vigliotta said at the Oct. 21 meeting that outside counsel is working on the appeal at no cost to the city.

In 2023, the City

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