Here’s How a Deleted Facebook Comment on Yardley Borough Page Led to First …

By Alaina Gross Published: 12:00 pm EDT July 1, 2025 Published: July 1, 2025 Updated: 11:42 am EDT July 1, 2025 Image via iStock. A federal judge ruled that Yardley officials violated a resident’s First Amendment rights by deleting a critical comment from the borough’s Facebook page. A federal judge has ruled that Yardley officials violated a resident’s First Amendment rights by deleting a critical comment from the borough’s Facebook page, writes Abraham Gutman for The Philadelphia Inquirer . District Judge Mark A. Kearney denied a request from borough officials to remove themselves from a lawsuit filed by Earl Markey over a Facebook comment deleted in 2022. The judge emphasized that the officials are not immune from liability, citing a “consensus of established law.” “A resident undoubtedly enjoys the right to appropriately criticize his local borough government officials under the First Amendment without fear of government censure,” said Kearney. Markey, a corporate trainer and local Republican committee member, commented on a post from the “Yardley Boro” Facebook page. The post promoted a ballot measure to reduce the borough council members from seven to five. “Appointed Councilman Matt Curtin wants to raise property taxes by two mills,” wrote Markey. “Stop unelected
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