Florida's 'Stop WOKE' Act Partially Struck Down by 11th Circuit Court

On July 7 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that key provisions of Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act” were unconstitutional when applied to public‑university faculty. The court held that the state could not prohibit professors from expressing viewpoints on race, sex, privilege or oppression, citing violations of the First Amendment and academic‑freedom principles.

The decision protects educators at Florida’s public universities from being barred from discussing certain diversity, equity and inclusion topics and may influence challenges to similar anti‑DEI statutes in other states.