Man arrested after calling for town officials to resign
LACONIA, N.H. -- A judge has ruled in favor of a New Hampshire man who was charged with disorderly conduct after he called on town officials to resign at a local board meeting.
It was back in February when Alton, N.H. man Jeffrey Clay was hit with the disorderly conduct complaint, after he called on the town's governing board to resign for their "poor actions as selectmen," ''poor decisions," and "continued violations of the citizens' rights here in Alton."
Clay also argued that the selectmen had violated the Right-To-Know law by holding sessions at odd hours of the day.
Judge James Carroll said the 56-year-old man's arrest violated his constitutional right to free speech.
Clay himself had contended his criticism was protected speech under the First Amendment.