Northeast Louisiana legislator sued for allegedly violating First Amendment rights

Sen. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe) faces a pending lawsuit by the Tulane University First Amendment Law Clinic for blocking Maya Detiege from her public Twitter because of Detiege's viewpoint and critical tweets, the law clinic announced Thursday.

The state senator's actions violated Detiege's right to free political speech, Clinic Director Katie Schwartzmann said in a press release.

"Twitter is the modern version of the public square, the very space our founders held sacred under the First Amendment for the free exchange of differing viewpoints," Schwartzmann said. "As an elected official, Senator Jackson should protect that space, encourage debate, and be ready to defend her stances. Shutting down dissenting voices is an attack on basic democratic values."

The dispute stems from Detiege's objection in June 2022 to Jackson's self-congratulatory tweet about authoring Louisiana Senate Bill 342 − legislation that would outlaw almost all abortions in Louisiana should the Court overturn Roe v. Wade, the press release reads. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law on June 17, 2022, just days before the Supreme Court announced its decision in Dobbs.

The press release said when another Twitter user scolded Jackson for SB 342, she tried to deflect the argument by highlighting taxpayer dollars put aside to fight against sex trafficking and support pregnancy centers.

Dietege jumped into the exchange and criticized that funding, calling it "inadequate." Jackson replied, "Did you advocate for more?" At that point, Detiege tweeted to Jackson that it's her role as a senator to advocate for such funding and wished her defeat in the next election.

Jackson then blocked Detiege from her Twitter account without explanation, the press release said. The press release said Jackson has a history of blocking Twitter users who disagree with her, describing it as a "censorious habit" that the Clinic's lawsuit hopes to break.

Schwartzmann said debate and dialogue is what Jackson signed up for by running for office. Schwartzmann said Jackson owes it to her democracy not to hinder the free exchange of ideas, including ones she disagrees with.

The press release says if the case is successful, it would further bolster the wide understanding under the First Amendment that public officials cannot hide from critics on public social media platforms. The lawsuit demands Jackson reinstate Detiege's access to her public Twitter account and pay for her legal fees. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in the Western District of Louisiana.

The case has been prepared and will be litigated by third-year Tulane Law student attorneys in the clinic Shelby Rose and Matthew Warren, under the supervision of Schwartzmann and Stanton Fellow Virginia Hamrick. Students will engage in work on all aspects of the case, from client interviews to drafting court filings, under faculty supervision.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Senator faces lawsuit for allegedly violating First Amendment rights