Know Your Rights for Participating in Public Comment

The University of Georgia School of Law’s First Amendment Clinic explains “Know Your Rights” for participating in public comment at local government meetings.

Learn how government officials are allowed to regulate speech during public comment, understand what they can’t do, and get information about steps to take if you believe your rights were violated.

Presented by:

Clare Norins & Ana Hernandez Lozano
UGA School of Law’s First Amendment Clinic

Gerry Weber, Law Offices of Gerald Weber LLC
Georgia First Amendment Foundation Board Member

Presentation Video

An image of two protesters holding up signs. The man on the right holds a sign that says "Justice 4 All". The woman on the left weras a face mask and her sign says "I want to be heard".

The Issue

Free Speech

The First Amendment protects the right of private individuals to engage in speech and expression without being censored or punished by the government because of their viewpoint. While the government may constitutionally regulate the time, place, and manner of private speech in public forums it must do so in a viewpoint-neutral manner and, depending on…

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Hands over a laptop keyboard, with illustrations of records reflected on the screen.

The Issue

Government Transparency

Georgia’s legislature finds that transparent government is essential to a free, open, and democratic society. The state’s “sunshine laws” guarantee access to the public records and public meetings of local and state government agencies. The First Amendment and Georgia’s uniform superior court rules also protect the public’s right to observe court proceedings and review court…

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