America First Legal sues California to block 'Stop Nick Shirley Act'

America First Legal and attorney John W. Howard on Friday filed a lawsuit against California in a bid to block the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," a state law they saw illegally restricts the actions of journalists.

Shirley is an independent journalist and YouTube who first achieved national attention for a series of videos exploring alleged fraud in Minneapolis linked to the Somali expat community. He has since expanded his reporting to other states, including California.

The suit outlines a fact pattern that suggests California passed the bill in direct response to Shirley's initiation of investigations within the state.

The suit alleges multiple counts of viewpoint-based discrimination in violation of the First Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment due process violations, and argues that the legislation is an Ex Post Facto Law that violates Article I of the Constitution.

AFL, Howard, and Shirley, are seeking a stay on enforcement of the law, a declaration that it is unconstitutional, reasonable attorney fees, and any other relief the Court deems appropriate.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.