11th Circuit Court Of Appeals Upholds Block Of Florida 'Stop WOKE' Law

Ballard Spahr LLP—an Am Law 100 law firm with more than 750 lawyers in 18 U.S. offices—serves clients across industries in litigation, transactions, and regulatory compliance. A strategic legal partner to clients, Ballard goes beyond to deliver actionable, forward-thinking counsel and advocacy powered by deep industry experience and an understanding of each client’s specific business goals. Our culture is defined by an entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative environment, and top-down focus on service, efficiency, and results.

Explore Firm Details

Ballard Spahr litigators joined forces with the ACLU and Legal Defense Fund to challenge Florida's controversial "Stop W.O.K.E." Act in federal court.

United States

Ballard Spahr litigators partnered with the ACLU and the Legal Defense Fund to successfully challenge Florida's “Stop W.O.K.E.” Act in the landmark case Pernell v. Lamb. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11^th Circuit in July 2026 struck down the law's higher education restrictions as a violation of the First Amendment. The ruling drew significant national attention, including the articles below.

Law360: 11th Circ. Upholds Block of Fla. 'Stop WOKE' Law

CNBC: DeSantis-backed ‘Stop WOKE’ law meets appeals court block, teeing up possible Supreme Court fight

Bloomberg: DeSantis Loses in Bid to Revive ‘Woke’ College Lessons Ban

Florida Politics: Appeals court rules Stop WOKE Act can’t muzzle Florida professors

WLRN, Florida Public Radio: Federal appeals court strikes down Florida law restricting teaching on race, gender

WFTV Channel 9, Central Florida: Appeals court rules Florida’s Stop WOKE Act violates First Amendment

Contributor

Explore Firm Details

See More Popular Content From