Stop WOKE Act ruled unconstitutional
Analysis based on 19 articles · First reported Jul 07, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026
The ruling has limited direct market impact, as it primarily affects public university operations in United States — Florida. However, it may influence similar laws in other states and signals judicial resistance to curriculum restrictions, potentially affecting education-related companies and institutions.
On July 7, 2026, a divided 2-1 panel of the United States — United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that United States — Florida's Stop WOKE Act (HB 7), which restricted race- and gender-based instruction in public colleges and universities, violates the First Amendment. The majority opinion, written by Judge Britt Grant and joined by Judge Charles Wilson, rejected the state's argument that professors' speech is government speech because they are paid by the state. Judge Barbara Lagoa dissented, arguing the state has authority to determine curriculum. The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, had been blocked by a lower court since 2022. The ruling affirms the preliminary injunction and is a significant legal defeat for DeSantis's culture war agenda. The case may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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