Supreme Court Backs Villarreal's Lawsuit Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated the lawsuit of Texas online journalist Priscilla Villarreal, also known as La Gordiloca, who claims she was wrongfully arrested in 2017 for obtaining nonpublic information from police. The Court directed the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider her case following a recent ruling that affirmed the right to sue government officials for First Amendment violations. Villarreal's arrest drew significant attention from free speech advocates and national media, especially after a state judge found the law used against her to be unconstitutional. Previously, a divided appeals court had ruled against her, granting legal immunity to the officials involved. Villarreal has expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court's decision, viewing it as a crucial step towards correcting the injustices she faced. Her case highlights ongoing concerns about press freedoms and the treatment of citizen journalists.