Appeals Court Rules Against Maskless Free Speech Claim

A federal appeals court rejected claims that not wearing a mask during the COVID-19 outbreak is protected speech under the First Amendment, stating that refusing to wear a mask during a public health emergency does not constitute free speech. The ruling came in response to lawsuits against officials in New Jersey, where individuals were allegedly retaliated against for not wearing masks at school board meetings. The court found that disobeying a masking requirement is not a form of protected speech and that there is no First Amendment right to refuse to wear a protective mask during a recognized public health emergency.