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Eugene

(62,623 posts)
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 10:07 AM Jan 2024

An 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 official’s 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 sheriff’s 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 sheriff’s 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 Constitution’s 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

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An Ohio official was arrested for speaking at her own meeting. Her rights were violated, judge says (Original Post) Eugene Jan 2024 OP
so the sherrif says "my bad" and thats that? getagrip_already Jan 2024 #1
Damages yet to be determined Bludogdem Jan 2024 #3
ahh, missed that, sorry getagrip_already Jan 2024 #4
Court rules on Frenchko lawsuit mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2024 #2
"Here in America, we do not arrest our political opponents," 3Hotdogs Jan 2024 #5
'Lock her, him, them and they up'... rubbersole Jan 2024 #7
We do, however, arrest top secret-stealing, election overturning, insurrectionist, bank defrauding tax cheats. sop Jan 2024 #10
this .ding. AllaN01Bear Jan 2024 #6
One of Frenchko's attorneys, David John Betras, a former Democratic Party chairman progressoid Jan 2024 #8
Is there a Federal law? multigraincracker Jan 2024 #9

getagrip_already

(17,179 posts)
1. so the sherrif says "my bad" and thats that?
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 10:17 AM
Jan 2024

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)
3. Damages yet to be determined
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 10:29 AM
Jan 2024

“ 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.”

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,568 posts)
2. Court rules on Frenchko lawsuit
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 10:26 AM
Jan 2024
Court rules on Frenchko lawsuit

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 sheriff’s department, the sheriff, a county commissioner and a former commissioner stemming from her July 7, 2022, arrest.

{snip}

sop

(11,078 posts)
10. We do, however, arrest top secret-stealing, election overturning, insurrectionist, bank defrauding tax cheats.
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 01:00 PM
Jan 2024

AllaN01Bear

(22,913 posts)
6. this .ding.
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 12:07 PM
Jan 2024

“Here in America, we do not arrest our political opponents,” the judge wrote. “This case tests that longstanding norm as well as our Constitution’s 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)
8. One of Frenchko's attorneys, David John Betras, a former Democratic Party chairman
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 12:57 PM
Jan 2024
One of Frenchko’s 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 can’t arrest each other because you disagree with them politically. Once you start down that slope, it’s bad news for all of us,” Betras said. “Who arrests someone for disturbing their own meeting?”

multigraincracker

(33,913 posts)
9. Is there a Federal law?
Wed Jan 17, 2024, 12:57 PM
Jan 2024

Violation of a Citizen’s Constitutional Rights under color of law.
Not a lawyer, but like to hear from one.

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