Incident
United States (Louisiana): Federal court order blocking enforcement of the police buffer zone law, January 2025
United StatesRSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180
- Access bans
- Stage Restrict
- Ongoing
On January 31, 2025, Judge John W. deGravelles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, a federal trial court, blocked enforcement of the state's 25-foot (7.6-metre) police buffer zone law with a preliminary injunction, an order that keeps the situation as it is while a case is decided. He wrote that "the distance required is likely to impede Plaintiffs' non-obstructive newsgathering" and that "the Act has a chilling effect on Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights." The plaintiffs included journalists and civil rights observers. Louisiana was reported to be appealing the order.1
What happened
On January 31, 2025, Judge John W. deGravelles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana blocked enforcement of the state's 25-foot police buffer zone law. He ruled that the plaintiffs, including journalists and civil rights observers, were likely to succeed on their claim that the distance requirement would impede newsgathering that does not obstruct police, in breach of the First Amendment, the part of the United States Constitution that protects freedom of speech and of the press.123
The challenge argued that the law made routine filming of police from a normal observing distance a crime and gave officers broad discretion to order bystanders back whether or not they were interfering. Louisiana defended the law as an officer-safety measure and was reported to be appealing the injunction to the Fifth Circuit, the federal appeals court based in New Orleans.123
Status as of 2026-09-22: Suspended by court order. The injunction remains in place while the case is pending; Louisiana's appeal was reported pending as of mid-2026.3
What reason was given
Stated justificationLouisiana defended the law in court as an officer-safety measure.123
What changed for reporting
While the injunction is in place, journalists and the public in Louisiana may film police from ordinary distances.2
Timeline
2025
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| John W. deGravelles | ruled | Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana |
| Louisiana Legislature | defended | State legislature |
Sources
- Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police archived copy
- Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police
Claims and evidence
Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.
- Judge deGravelles issued the order blocking enforcement of the buffer-zone law.
The preliminary injunction will be effective while the case is pending.
Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police, Louisiana Illuminator, 2025-01-31.Claim 52, checked 2026-09-22. - Journalists and the public may film police from ordinary distances while the injunction remains in place.
The distance required is likely to impede Plaintiffs' non-obstructive newsgathering. … Therefore, the Act has a chilling effect on Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights.
Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police archived copy, Yahoo News / AP, 2025-01-31.Claim 53, checked 2026-09-22. - The block on enforcement remained in place while Louisiana pursued an appeal.
The preliminary injunction will be effective while the case is pending.
Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police, Louisiana Illuminator, 2025-01-31.Claim 54, checked 2026-09-22.