The Louisiana Supreme Court has decided to let a defamation lawsuit filed by librarian Amanda Jones get another chance in court. Two years ago, Jones was accused of promoting pornography and inappropriate content for children at her library in Livingston Parish. Now, the court says she has the right to demand proof from her accusers about the serious claims they made against her.
“If the defendants can prove their claims are true, that’s their defense,” explained Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III. “But if they can’t, they’ve defamed her.”
This case dates back to 2022 when Jones, who worked at the Livingston Parish Library, was targeted by a group called Citizens for a New Louisiana. The group, along with its executive director Michael Lunsford and local resident Ryan Thames, accused Jones of keeping “erotic” books in the children’s section. Thames runs a Facebook page called Bayou State of Mind, where the accusations were also shared. Jones believes the attacks began after she spoke at a public meeting against censorship in libraries.
Jones sued the group for defamation, saying their claims were damaging and false. She asked for compensation and for the court to stop the group from making further accusations. However, the case was initially dismissed because the trial judge ruled that Jones, as an advocate against censorship, was a public figure and her stance on library books made her open to criticism. Additionally, her appeal for a new trial was denied because it was filed late.
But now, the Louisiana Supreme Court has given her case a second chance. They ruled that the lower court must rehear her claims and allow evidence to be presented. This decision means the original dismissal might not stand after all.
Michael Lunsford, one of the defendants, said his group was only telling the truth. In their Facebook post, they asked, “Why is Amanda Jones fighting so hard to keep sexually erotic and pornographic materials in the kid’s section?” They pointed to books like “Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy” and “Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human.” According to Lunsford, these books contain explicit images and instructions on sexual acts, which he believes shouldn’t be accessible to children.
Lunsford added that a Louisiana law supports their view that such content isn’t appropriate for library children’s sections. “It’s shocking to me that anyone would defend this,” he said.
Jones’ attorney, Alysson Mills, disagrees. She told local media they’re ready to prove in court that the accusations against Jones were baseless. Mills explained that the defendants even claimed Jones was teaching kids about explicit topics like anal sex, which is untrue and deeply harmful to her reputation as an educator.
“This isn’t about taking sides in a book debate,” Mills clarified. “It’s about holding people accountable for spreading lies.”
For Jones, the stakes are personal. “All I’m asking for is $1 and an apology,” she said. “Free speech doesn’t mean you can lie about someone. I’m looking forward to seeing these men held accountable.”
Over the past two years, Jones has used this ordeal to raise awareness about challenges faced by librarians and the importance of fighting censorship. Her efforts even caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey. But for Jones, this lawsuit is about setting the record straight and defending her career.
Now, the case heads back to the lower court, where a jury will finally hear both sides and decide if the accusations were defamatory or not.
