Civil Liberties
Related: About this forumAn Ohio official was arrested for speaking at her own meeting. Her rights were violated, judge says
Source: Associated Press
An Ohio official was arrested for speaking at her own meeting. Her rights were violated, judge says
BY MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Updated 5:54 PM EST, January 16, 2024
An Ohio elected officials constitutional rights were violated when her colleagues on a county board of commissioners had her arrested for criticizing the sheriff during a public meeting, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
Niki Frenchko, the lone Republican on the three-member Trumbull County Board of Commissioners, was placed in handcuffs by sheriffs deputies at the commissioners meeting on July 7, 2022, and charged under an Ohio law that makes it a misdemeanor to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting. The law prohibits obstructive conduct or speech that outrages the sensibilities of the group. The charge was later dropped,
Frenchko who livestreamed her arrest on Facebook subsequently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, saying she was ordered to leave the meeting and placed under arrest for exercising her First Amendment right to free speech, and that the sheriffs department lacked probable cause to charge her.
U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese agreed.
Here in America, we do not arrest our political opponents, the judge wrote. This case tests that longstanding norm as well as our Constitutions robust protections for free speech that allow us to criticize our representatives and public officials.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ohio-official-livestream-arrest-lawsuit-83ae3db51134025ea9fcb65cbf9ad11a
getagrip_already
(17,179 posts)No sanctions? No penlties?
So her rights were violated and thats it? Don't do that again? Not even legal fees?
Doesn't seem right.....
Bludogdem
(93 posts) Calabrese ruled that the sheriff, two deputies, and both county commissioners named in the suit one of whom has since left the board are personally liable for damages. A hearing on damages will be scheduled later.
getagrip_already
(17,179 posts)didn't see that in the article.
mahatmakanejeeves
(60,568 posts)Both sides granted summary judgment on some claims
LOCAL NEWS
JAN 17, 2024
MASON COLE
Reporter
mcole@tribtoday.com
WARREN A ruling from Judge J. Philip Calabrese states that Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko suffered a false arrest and was potentially subjected to several other underlying, unlawful acts detailed in her federal lawsuit against the county, the sheriffs department, the sheriff, a county commissioner and a former commissioner stemming from her July 7, 2022, arrest.
{snip}
3Hotdogs
(13,314 posts)At lest, not until January, 2025.
rubbersole
(8,337 posts)sop
(11,078 posts)AllaN01Bear
(22,913 posts)Here in America, we do not arrest our political opponents, the judge wrote. This case tests that longstanding norm as well as our Constitutions robust protections for free speech that allow us to criticize our representatives and public officials. so there too. and that includes t,,,,,
progressoid
(50,687 posts)One of Frenchkos attorneys, David John Betras, a former Democratic Party chairman of a neighboring county in northeastern Ohio, said he represented the Republican official in court because the case has nothing to do with politics.
We cant arrest each other because you disagree with them politically. Once you start down that slope, its bad news for all of us, Betras said. Who arrests someone for disturbing their own meeting?
multigraincracker
(33,913 posts)Violation of a Citizens Constitutional Rights under color of law.
Not a lawyer, but like to hear from one.