Federal Judge Reinstates Maud Maron to NYC Education Council Citing First Amendment Concerns

A federal judge has ordered the temporary reinstatement of Maud Maron, a prominent parent leader and Manhattan District Attorney candidate, to her position on a New York City Community Education Council (CEC). The ruling, issued on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Diane Gujarati, raises significant questions about the constitutionality of the city's regulations governing the conduct of parent leaders, citing potential breaches of the First Amendment.

Maron, a member of Manhattan’s District 2 CEC, was removed from her post in June by Schools Chancellor David Banks following months of controversy. Critics had called for her removal due to her affiliations with groups like Moms for Liberty and her outspoken views on transgender issues and education policies. The judge's decision found a "clear and substantial likelihood" that parts of the regulations used for her removal were overly broad and vague, potentially discriminating against certain viewpoints.

The controversy surrounding Maron intensified after she sponsored a resolution in March calling for the Department of Education to reconsider its guidelines allowing transgender students to participate in sports teams aligning with their gender identities. Additionally, she faced criticism for private text messages denying the existence of transgender children and for comments regarding a Stuyvesant High School student. These statements were cited by the city as violations of regulations prohibiting derogatory comments about students and aggressive speech.

Maron expressed her satisfaction with the court's decision, stating, "There is more work to be done to make sure the DOE does not silence dissenting parents, but this is a great first step." The city's Education Department, while disappointed, acknowledged it had already begun reviewing and revising the applicable Chancellor’s regulation prior to the ruling. The temporary injunction reinstates Maron pending the outcome of an ongoing lawsuit against the city's Education Department, in which she is a plaintiff.