Campaign Facebook Comments Aren’t Protected by First Amendment

A probate judge didn’t violate the First Amendment by deleting a Texas lawyer’s comments and blocking him from his campaign’s Facebook page.

Randall Kallinen didn’t show the Facebook page was used in an official capacity, and even if he had Michael Newman was entitled to qualified immunity, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said Friday.

• Newman deleted three comments and blocked Kallinen from viewing his campaign’s Facebook page after he accused the probate judge of having “court cronies” and saying he wouldn’t vote for him
• Newman used the Facebook page as an individual seeking office, not in ...