Judge declines to block Washington cyberstalking law
A federal judge declined to block Washington’s cyberstalking law Tuesday — despite his concerns about its constitutionality.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton in Tacoma said in his written order that he agreed with the state Attorney General’s Office, which argued he should refrain from ruling on the matter because the Bainbridge Island man who challenged the law also has a related appeal in state court. Leighton cited a legal principle under which federal courts generally don’t intervene in state court proceedings.
A retired Air Force major named Richard L. Rynearson III, of Bainbridge Island, sued to block the law, saying it’s unconstitutional because, among other things, it bars online speech designed to embarrass other people.
Rynearson argued that the law criminalizes speech otherwise protected by the First Amendment. He said the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office had threatened to prosecute him for posts that criticized — but did not threaten — a local community activist.
Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/judge-declines-to-block-washington-cyberstalking-law/