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March 7, 2018DES MOINES, Iowa |  By: James

Federal judge allows Iowa "ag-gag" law challenge to move forward

Opponents of Iowa's so-called "ag-gag" law are awaiting a court date for a trial they hope will provide a similar result to what has happened in other states

Iowa's ag-gag law criminalizes efforts to expose violations related to animal cruelty and food safety. Last week, a federal judge denied the state's motion to dismiss a pending lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ag-gag law. This means the case can go to trial in mid 2019.

The law prohibits journalists, watchdog groups, or other whistle-blowers from gaining access to agricultural facilities to expose inhumane practices or safety violations. Executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa Mark Stringer says having special legal protections for farm interests is unconstitutional.

Under Iowa's current law, anyone who gains access to an agricultural production facility under false pretenses can face up to a year in jail, which Stringer says has effectively terminated exposes of any wrongdoing in the farm industry.

Stringer says he believes exposing food industry violations that put the public at risk should be rewarded, not punished.