The Louisiana Supreme Court has unanimously rejected an attempt by Michael Lunsford and Citizens for a New Louisiana to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by Livingston Parish school librarian Amanda Jones, clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial.
The Justices ruled Tuesday that Jones can press her claim that Lunsford, executive director of Citizens for a New Louisiana, and his group harmed her with allegations that she promoted inappropriate materials to children. The decision was released without comment.
The ruling affirms a 2025 decision by Louisiana's 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, which found that Jones had demonstrated she could prevail on the merits and that it would be appropriate for a jury to decide whether some of the group's remarks were defamatory. The appellate court said Jones has a right to argue that the comments "were knowingly false or made with reckless disregard of the truth, and caused Ms. Jones injury, including harm to her reputation, contempt, ridicule, anxiety, and emotional distress."
Ryan Thames, the other defendant in the case and operator of the Facebook page Bayou State of Mind, settled with Jones in November 2025. Thames posted a video apology on Facebook and agreed to pay Jones $1.
Background
The lawsuit stems from a July 2022 meeting of the Livingston Parish Library Board of Control where Jones spoke against book bans and censorship. Following the meeting, Lunsford and Thames made online posts about Jones that she alleges were defamatory.
Jones sued in August 2022, claiming the posts falsely portrayed her as promoting inappropriate materials to children and resulted in death threats and harassment. A district court initially dismissed her lawsuit, but appellate courts have since ruled the case should proceed to trial.
Lunsford has maintained that the group's remarks were protected public speech. The case will now return to the trial court level, where a jury will determine whether the statements were defamatory.
Jones' case has garnered national attention, making her a prominent voice in the fight against book censorship. She is featured in the PBS documentary "The Librarians," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025 and aired on PBS in February 2026. The Oscar-nominated director Kim A. Snyder film, executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, follows librarians across the country who have faced harassment and attacks for defending intellectual freedom. Jones also authored the book "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America." She was also named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list in September 2025. The TIME100 Next list recognizes emerging leaders who are shaping the next generation of leadership. Sarah Jessica Parker wrote the profile about Jones for the magazine.
