This column addresses decisions of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Perhaps as a reflection of current times, District Judge David N. Hurd recently ruled on two cases involving First Amendment rights—one challenging an ordinance that prohibited bringing signs to city council meetings and another involving the impact of a professor’s economic views on his promotion.

The plaintiffs in Tyler v. City of Kingston, 2022 WL 790772, 22-CV-1 (March 16, 2022), were members of two activist organizations that focused on police misconduct and diversity issues. They opposed the City of Kingston’s contemplated purchases of an armored rescue vehicle and surveillance cameras and planned to demonstrate that opposition with signs and posters at an upcoming City Council meeting. Just prior to the meeting, the City enacted a ban on signs and posters at Council meetings. The plaintiffs brought an action claiming that the last-minute ban violated their First Amendment rights.