As previously reported on LoHud, George Potanovic, a local activist, filed a legal action against Stony Point Town Supervisor Jim Monaghan, claiming that Monaghan violated his First Amendment free speech rights and his right to access public meetings by turning off the connection for those watching the meetings from home on Facebook live during the coronavirus pandemic months.
However, U.S. District Court Judge Vincent Briccetti ruled that the First Amendment does not guarantee a speaker’s right to have their remarks to the town board broadcasted and archived by the town. The judge also rejected Potanovic’s claim that the town’s policy of differentiating who can hear public comments between in-person and at-home viewers violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Potanovic filed the legal action in April 22, 2020 after the town switched to holding meetings through zoom video-conferencing and in-person access due to the COVID-19 pandemic.