Bradburn v. North Central Regional Library District

¶83 (dissenting) — The question before this court is whether, consistent with our state constitution’s *822free speech protections, a public library can actively restrict adult access to web sites containing constitutionally protected speech. The question is easy to answer: of course it cannot.

¶84 Article I, section 5 is direct. It says that “[e]very person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for abuse of that right.” The freedom to “speak, write and publish” encompasses the freedom to read as well. Cf. Fritz v. Gorton, 83 Wn.2d 275, 297, 517 P.2d 911 (1974)…