Godwin Dold Earns A Major First Amendment Victory at the Minnesota Supreme Court

Today the Supreme Court of Minnesota ruled in favor of Godwin Dold’s client that a portion of Minnesota’s criminal coercion statute is unconstitutionally overbroad. The Court held that the statute improperly prohibits a wide range of speech that is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Therefore, the specific statute is invalid and State is not able to prosecute our client under the statute. 

The charge was originally thrown out by Olmsted County District Court Judge Joseph F. Chase. The Court of Appeals affirmed his decision, and the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.

The Court’s decision is a vindication for the free speech rights of all Minnesotans.

https://mn.gov/law-library-stat/archive/supct/2020/OPA190323-072220.pdf