The Strong Towns Podcast Lawsuit Update: Making a Stand for Engineers in the Minnesota State Court of Appeals
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Jan 30, 2023 In this episode, William Mormon, appellate counsel for Charles Marohn, and Alan Cook Barr, Assistant Attorney General, dive deep into a compelling legal battle. They discuss First Amendment rights tied to engineering advocacy, focusing on whether Marohn's political speech can be regulated. Mormon argues the board overstepped its authority, while Barr maintains false licensure claims aren't protected. The tension between professional titles and free speech raises critical questions about the limits of regulation in the engineering field.
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Regulatory Power Can Chill Dissent
- State licensing boards can be used to silence critics rather than just protect the public from bad engineering.
- Charles Marohn argues this case is about limits of state power to regulate speech, not the truth of misconduct allegations.
Lapsed License And Board Sanction
- Marohn says his PE lapsed unintentionally in 2018 and he did not practice engineering while unlicensed.
- The board nevertheless found he practiced deceptively and fined and censured him, which he disputes.
Back Legal Defenses For Reformers
- Support legal defense for advocates targeted by professional boards to protect speech and reform efforts.
- Donate or back organizations like Strong Towns to cover expensive legal battles and preserve reform voices.