sentences:  Baraka ceased being poet laureate when the law became effective.In response to legal action filed by Baraka, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that state officials were immune from such suits, and in November 2007 the Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear an appeal of the case.Baraka served as the second Poet Laureate of New Jersey from July 2002 until the position was abolished on July 2, 2003.