Kent County judge denies request to toss school librarian’s lawsuit against Moms for Liberty member

A West Michigan librarian’s case against a member of the far-right group Moms for Liberty will proceed following a Kent County judge’s decision to deny a request for summary disposition. 

Christine Beachler, library media director for Lowell Area Schools in May filed a civil suit against Moms for Liberty associate Stefanie Boone, hitting back against what Beachler described as a “smear campaign” including name calling, harassment and a flood of false statements posted to Facebook, including allegations that Beachler is providing pornography to minors. 

“It’s just really hard to talk about. That’s why I’ve actually been working from home a lot. … I mean being called a groomer, being called a pedophile, I was called a whore, a smut peddler,” Beachler said in a previous interview with the Michigan Advance. “I’ve been an educator for 37 years and how can somebody call somebody that name that has invested their life in working with kids? It’s very hurtful and obviously untrue.”

Moms for Liberty advocates against school curriculums that include discussions of LGBTQ+ identities and discussions of race and racism. The group has also advocated for bans on racially inclusive books and books with LGBTQ+ content or themes.

While Boone and her attorney Matt DePerno filed a motion to have the case dismissed without a trial, Judge Christina Mims denied that request on Friday.

“We’re excited to move forward with discovery and show that the librarian is pushing porn on kids and that she peddles smut,” Deperno told the Michigan Advance on Thursday.

DePerno is a former GOP candidate for Michigan Attorney General who is also facing felony charges related to allegations he tampered with election equipment.

Beachler’s attorney, Elizabeth Geary, said they were also happy with the judge’s ruling.

“We are pleased that the court saw through Defendants’ self-promoting attacks on libraries and librarians and rejected the motion to get out from under this case. We look forward to moving forward in discovery and demonstrating the harm that Defendants’ campaign against Christine has caused,” Geary said in an email.

Boone filed her own lawsuit against Beachler, the school district and several school employees in June 2024, alleging they had violated her parental rights. Beachler, the school district and its employees have filed a motion with the U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan’s Southern Division to have the matter dismissed. The Court has yet to rule on the motion.