FREEHOLD, NJ – A Monmouth County resident has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Shaun Golden and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, alleging her critical comments on the agency’s official Facebook page were secretly hidden from public view in violation of her free speech rights.
In a verified complaint filed January 8 in Monmouth County Superior Court, plaintiff Laurie Tietjen claims the sheriff’s office engaged in “shadowbanning” — a practice where a user’s posts remain visible to them but are concealed from others — after she posted comments critical of Sheriff Golden and the department’s leadership.
Tietjen, represented by attorney Marco Di Stefano of Union, alleges her posts included criticism of Golden’s handling of certain matters, including references to former county official Ross Licitra. After posting several comments accusing the sheriff of dishonesty and public image manipulation, she says her remarks were first deleted and later hidden through Facebook’s administrative tools.
According to the lawsuit, Tietjen discovered the restriction after confirming with third-party users that her comments, though visible to her, were not seen by the general public. She argues that this selective moderation constitutes viewpoint discrimination in violation of the New Jersey Constitution and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act.
The complaint asserts that the sheriff’s office Facebook page operates as a designated public forum, inviting citizens to comment on official posts and participate in public discussions. Tietjen claims the “shadowbanning” practice effectively suppresses dissent and shields the sheriff from public criticism.
Citing legal precedents including Packingham v. North Carolina and Lindke v. Freed, the lawsuit argues that social media platforms maintained by government officials are modern public squares subject to constitutional protections. Tietjen is asking the court to declare the sheriff’s Facebook page a protected public forum and to prohibit officials from hiding or deleting comments based on their viewpoint.
The complaint also seeks attorney’s fees, court costs, and a declaratory judgment affirming that the sheriff’s office violated Tietjen’s free speech rights.