Verdict: Federal jury sides with St. John Parish officials in free speech lawsuit

NEW ORLEANS — A panel of nine jurors in a federal First Amendment trial found the St. John the Baptist Parish government and its two top officials did not violate the free speech rights of a resident who was prevented from delivering a speech about Parish President Jaclyn Hotard’s family’s financial interests in a land use matter. 

After deliberating for nearly five hours Wednesday, the jury found all three defendants — Hotard, Councilman-At-Large Michael Wright and the parish government — not liable in the free speech lawsuit filed by Descendants Project co-founder Joy Banner.