In what could be the first of its kind for the New Orleans metro area, the St. Tammany Parish Council may soon ban “defamatory comments” against members of the public during council meetings.
Proponents say it’s an unfortunate, yet necessary step to maintain decorum at increasingly combative council meetings. Critics worry the ordinance may violate the First Amendment.
‘The Final Straw’
The ordinance’s backers say they decided to introduce it after a November Parish Council meeting.
At that meeting, parish resident Beverly Roser lodged her opposition to attorney Jeffrey Schoen’s nomination to be on a committee created to modernize the council and parish government…