The Liberty Justice Center has initiated legal action against the Pulaski County School District in Kentucky, alleging violations of the First Amendment rights of Corey DeAngelis, an educational advocate and member of the school board.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, London Division, stems from the district’s actions in August 2024, when it allegedly used taxpayer resources to lobby against Amendment 2, a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at expanding educational opportunities across Kentucky.
Corey DeAngelis publicly criticized the district’s actions, which he claimed were in violation of state law. In response, the district froze public discourse on its social media posts and temporarily blocked DeAngelis from its official page.
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The Liberty Justice Center contends that the district’s actions constituted viewpoint discrimination, a direct violation of the First Amendment. The case highlights the U.S. Supreme Court’s precedent that government officials cannot block individuals or censor comments based on differing opinions.
Background of the Case
- Illegal Advocacy: On August 11, 2024, Pulaski County School District posted messages on its website and social media pages lobbying against Amendment 2, which DeAngelis and others criticized as a misuse of public funds.
- Censorship Allegations: After DeAngelis voiced opposition to the district’s actions, the district froze comments on its posts and temporarily blocked him, allegedly silencing public dissent.
- Legal Demands Ignored: While the district eventually removed the lobbying posts and unblocked DeAngelis after receiving demand letters from the Liberty Justice Center, it declined to provide written assurances that it would not repeat such actions in the future.
“Public officials at all levels of government need to respect the First Amendment—and public school administrators are no exception,” said Dean McGee, Senior Attorney for Educational Freedom at the Liberty Justice Center. “The district’s attempts to censor online criticism of its illegal actions were a blatant violation of Corey’s rights and the rights of Pulaski County residents. We ask the court to ensure those violations are not repeated in the future.”
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The lawsuit, DeAngelis v. Pulaski County Board of Education, seeks to hold the district accountable and ensure that similar First Amendment violations do not occur. Steven J. Megerle, a Covington-based attorney, is serving as local counsel for the case.
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