The fight for free speech took center stage at the recent Texas Library Association Annual Conference, with an April 18 presentation co-hosted by Botkin Chiarello Calaf partner Katherine Chiarello.

The TLA Annual Conference, held in San Antonio, brought together over 3,000 attendees for a week of learning, networking, and advocacy.

Ellen Leonida, Impact Partner at San Francisco’s BraunHagey & Borden LLP, joined Katherine and lead plaintiff Leila Green Little to discuss their ongoing battle against censorship in the landmark case Little, et al. v. Llano County, et al.

The two firms, representing Ms. Green Little and six other library patrons in Llano, Texas, filed the first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the county for removing books on critical race theory, sex education, and LGBTQ+ issues from library shelves. Their tireless efforts resulted in a protective order issued by the Western District Court of Texas, forcing the county to return the censored books. That ruling was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, where it was argued in June 2023.‍

Katherine and Ellen offered a deep dive into the case's history, its current status, and the profound impact it has had on the Llano community.

“My colleagues and I are incredibly proud to have stood alongside Leila and the other plaintiffs," Katherine said. "This case is about ensuring access to vital information in Llano, but it’s also a crucial battle in the ongoing fight against censorship across the nation. It is an honor to have been given the opportunity to speak to TLA’s membership about this important case."