LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – A federal judge granted the ACLU of Kentucky’s motion for a preliminary injunction, preventing the Jenkins Independent School District from enforcing its ban against Letcher County parent Elizabeth Jones while her lawsuit moves forward.
Jones, a mother of two children in the district, was banned from school property and school events in December 2025 after school officials said some of her social media posts “appeared to be harassment.” Court filings say the district did not identify which posts led to the ban when it was issued and did not accuse Jones of making threats or engaging in violence.
Under the judge’s ruling, Jones is allowed to return to school property and attend school activities and events while the case continues.
“This ruling affirms a basic constitutional principle: public officials cannot punish people simply because they dislike or take offense at protected speech,” said Bethany Baxter, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky. “Ms. Jones should never have been forced to choose between exercising her First Amendment rights and participating fully in her children’s lives. We are pleased the court has stopped the district from continuing to enforce this harmful and unconstitutional ban while the case moves forward.”
The ACLU of Kentucky filed the lawsuit arguing the district retaliated against Jones for constitutionally protected speech and violated her First Amendment rights.
Court filings say Jones regularly attended her children’s sporting events and school activities for years without causing disruptions or violating school rules. The social media posts later identified by the district included jokes, commentary and photographs taken at public school sporting events.
The preliminary injunction does not resolve the lawsuit, but it temporarily blocks the district from enforcing the ban while the court considers the remaining claims.
The case is Elizabeth Jones v. Jenkins Independent School District, et al., in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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