On Wednesday, a Federal Judge in the Southern District of New York ruled President Donald Trump’s personal Twitter account to be a designated public forum and therefore blocking individuals from viewing his Twitter account is a violation of the First Amendment. This ruling could have widespread implications for all government officials who use any social media platforms.
It is recommended that elected officials review their social media policies, and more importantly, should ensure that their personal social media accounts are kept separate from any accounts used in their official capacity.To review the court’s ruling please visit its website. The League is currently reviewing this case and further analysis is forthcoming. In the meantime, you should review this information with your municipal attorney for more information on the matter.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, FMarshall@njslom.org or 609-695-3481, Ext. 137.