Ruling strikes Illinois recording law

CHICAGO — A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled Tuesday that Illinois’ eavesdropping law “likely violates” the First Amendment and ordered that authorities be banned from enforcing it.

The law, one of the strictest in the country, makes it illegal for people to record audio of police officers in public without their consent.

The ruling from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago stems from a lawsuit filed in 2010 by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. The suit sought a preliminary injunction barring Cook County prosecutors from enforcing the law.

A federal judge denied the request, prompting the ACLU to appeal to the 7th Circuit. In its ruling Tuesday, the appeals court agreed with the ACLU, saying, “The Illinois eavesdropping statute restricts far more speech than necessary to protect legitimate privacy interests.”