Ban on "Personal, Impertinent or Slanderous Remarks" in City Council Public Comments Is Unconstitutional
Politics Ban on "Personal, Impertinent or Slanderous Remarks" in City Council Public Comments Is Unconstitutional So the Fifth Circuit held a few weeks ago. Eugene Volokh | 7.15.2026 8:01 AM In Merriott v. The Policy forbids a citizen from noting that a councilmember has—even questionably—done anything that may be relevant to the public.
- ▪Politics Ban on "Personal, Impertinent or Slanderous Remarks" in City Council Public Comments Is Unconstitutional So the Fifth Circuit held a few weeks ago.
- ▪Eugene Volokh | 7.15.2026 8:01 AM In Merriott v.
- ▪The Policy forbids a citizen from noting that a councilmember has—even questionably—done anything that may be relevant to the public.
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Politics Ban on "Personal, Impertinent or Slanderous Remarks" in City Council Public Comments Is Unconstitutional So the Fifth Circuit held a few weeks ago. Eugene Volokh | 7.15.2026 8:01 AM In Merriott v. City of Bossier City, decided June 25 by Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez and joined by Judges Edith Brown Clement and Dana Douglas struck down a City Council public comment policy that Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the Council shall be forthwith, by the President Pro-tem, barred from further audience before the Council unless permission to continue by [sic] granted by a majority vote of the Council.
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