Supreme Court Considers Whether Public Officials May Block Constituents on Social Media

Two years after a case about President Trump blocking his critics online, the court looked at whether school trustees and a school manager can do the same.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in Washington on April 23, 2021. Erin Schaff/Pool via Reuters

When can government officials block individuals on their social media accounts? The United States Supreme Court considered that question at an Oct. 31 hearing.

The court’s eventual ruling on the high-profile controversy, which involves two contradictory rulings by lower courts, is likely to have an impact on all levels of government as citizens increasingly use social media to interact with public officials.