Environmental Groups Drop Free Speech Lawsuit Against New York Town
Environmental groups recently announced that they are dropping a First Amendment lawsuit filed against the Town of Sanford, New York, because earlier this month the town repealed a September 2012 resolution that banned the public discussion of natural gas drilling during monthly board meetings. The environmental groups filed their lawsuit in U.S. District Court in February 2013, alleging that the town’s resolution amounted to a “gag order” which violated the free speech rights of the town residents. The town board established the ban because the extensive public debate over natural gas drilling during meetings was preventing the board from accomplishing its business. In repealing the ban, the town board reserved the right to limit comments of any future speaker to three minutes.