A federal judge has halted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s executive order that designated two Muslim organizations as terrorist groups, ruling the action violated First Amendment rights and exceeded gubernatorial authority.

Court Rules Against Executive Overreach

U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker issued a preliminary injunction stopping enforcement of DeSantis’s executive order that targeted the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood. Walker wrote that the Constitution bars governors from using executive power to make political statements at the expense of citizens’ constitutional rights. The order prevents DeSantis from continuing the designation while the lawsuit proceeds through the courts.

The judge questioned whether a governor can unilaterally label one of America’s largest Muslim civil rights organizations as a terrorist group during a non-emergency situation. The executive order had instructed Florida state agencies to deny contracts, employment opportunities, and funding from executive or cabinet agencies to the designated groups and anyone providing them with material support. Florida’s estimated 500,000 Muslim residents faced potential impact from the sweeping directive.

First Amendment Defense Prevails

The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed the lawsuit, arguing it has consistently condemned terrorism and violence throughout its history. The organization alleged DeSantis targeted them specifically for defending free speech rights of individuals who expressed support for Palestinian human rights. The lawsuit contends that state officials attempted to punish or silence these voices, and CAIR’s legal advocacy defending constitutional protections led to the retaliatory designation.

Constitutional Principles at Stake

The ruling reinforces limits on executive power and protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Walker’s decision emphasizes that government officials cannot weaponize their authority to target organizations based on political disagreements or advocacy work. The preliminary injunction remains in effect as the case moves forward through the federal court system. The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment about the judicial order blocking enforcement of the designation.