Rude People Can’t Be Axed From Public Meetings, Court Says (2)

A town’s public meeting guidelines that prohibit rude remarks violate the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, the state Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday.

The opinion preserves the public’s right to criticize their elected officials.

“At a public comment session in a meeting of the board, a resident of the town thus clearly has the right to accurately complain about violations of law committed by town officials and object to other town actions, including its spending practices, and to express her views vehemently, critically, and personally to the government officials involved,” the opinion stated.

Louise Barron, a resident ...