Blogger Who Criticized Church Pastor Settles Lawsuit Against Police Officials

ABP last week reported on a settlement in Rich v. City of Jacksonville, a Florida federal court lawsuit by a blogger against against a sheriff's office official and an assistant state attorney charging free speech and Establishment Clause violations. Tom Rich began an anonymous blog on which he raised concerns about the pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Officer Robert Hinson, who was also on the pastor's security detail, opened an investigation in order to be able to subpoena Google and Comcast to discover the owner of the blog. Hinson obtained subpoenas from the Office of the State Attorney. Ultimately church officials were told the blogger's identity and the church barred Rich from its premises and began proceedings to revoke his church membership. (See prior posting.)  The settlement, announced on Rich's blog, gives plaintiff $50,000 in damages and commits the Jacksonville sheriff's office to make changes in its conflict of interest code and develop training for detectives on First Amendment issues. [Thanks to Wall of Separation for the lead.]