Last December, Robert Pitman, judge of the District Court for the Western District of Texas, enjoined the Texas App Store Accountability Act. The Act, which would have mandated age verification for app stores, was to go into effect January 1, 2026. But thanks to this ruling, it may not go into effect for years – or at all.

Proponents of the act argued that it was necessary: parents, even those who want to ensure their children do not see harmful material online, simply cannot navigate the plethora of apps, websites, and content that their children might have access to. If it had been allowed to go into effect, the legislation would have aided them by forcing app stores to pick up the slack and, by default, keep minors away from content they shouldn’t be viewing.

But thanks to Pitman, that’s up in the air. The Obama-appointed judge – who was supported by incumbent Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn – has a long history of left-wing rulings, from support for abortion to other rulings in favor of social media companies.

Pitman’s ruling here was particularly galling. His decision has only temporarily blocked the law as it works its way through the court system, meaning that a final ruling on constitutionality is likely years away, and may........

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