Indianapolis, In. – U.S. District Court Judge James Sweeney II, of the southern district has blocked a law in Indiana that would create a 25-foot buffer zone around law enforcement officers during certain activities by ruling in favor of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and a coalition of other Hoosier journalism organizations and media outlets. Lawmakers passed the law in April 2023, under which officers engaged in “lawful duties” can order someone to stay 25 feet away or risk a Class C misdemeanor. Judge Sweeny said, “Simply being within twenty-five feet of a police officer is not a crime, and indeed, important First Amendment rights are regularly exercised within twenty-five feet of law enforcement every single day.”