LONDON, Ky. — A Letcher County podcaster who is suing the Jenkins school board is now without a lawyer in her case, after hers was suspended from practicing in federal courts in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Elizabeth Jones sued the school district back in January, after she received a letter from the board’s attorney telling her she was not allowed to visit any of the district’s schools or attend any district-sponsored events. The letter said the reason for the ban was that she had made unspecified social media posts that were considered harassment.
Jones filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the district was retaliating against her for exercising her First Amendment rights and violated her rights to due process. The school district has denied it did anything wrong and has asked for the case to be tossed out.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove entered an order removing Jones’ attorney, Jennifer L. Taylor, of Belfry, from the case, after Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning suspended her from practicing in federal courts in the Eastern District. The order does not provide a reason for the suspension.
The order gives Jones 30 days to find another attorney or decide if she wants to represent herself.
