Edison Board of Education: Public Comment Policy Grants Excessive Discretion, Speaker Removed for Using 'Bad Words'

The Edison, New Jersey, Board of Education’s public comment policy grants the presiding officer largely unbounded discretion, listing actions he “may” take and allowing him to waive the rules entirely. The policy also prohibits “abusive” statements and requires “reasonable decorum” without defining those terms. During the board’s May 19, 2026, meeting, the presiding officer interrupted a speaker for using “bad words” and declared he had forfeited the remainder of his allotted time.

On July 15, 2026, FIRE wrote to the Board about the constitutional deficiencies with its policies and practices.