最高法院周一驳回了一名前宾夕法尼亚州法官的上诉。该法官因多次在Facebook上发布党派政治内容，包括对前总统乔·拜登及其政策的赞扬，而遭到停职。
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an appeal from a former Pennsylvania judge who was suspended after repeatedly posting partisan political content on Facebook, including praise for former President Joe Biden and his policies.
前法官马克·科恩曾是一名民主党州议员，于2018年开始在费城普通诉讼法院任职。他在担任法官期间发布了数十条带有政治色彩的Facebook帖子，即便此前已收到警告要求停止。科恩于4月向最高法院提出上诉，其律师声称，这位前法官的《第一修正案》权利受到了侵犯。
Former Judge Mark Cohen, a former Democratic state lawmaker who began serving on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 2018, made dozens of politically charged Facebook posts while on the bench, even after being warned to stop. Cohen appealed to the Supreme Court in April, with his lawyers arguing that the former judge’s First Amendment rights had been violated.
科恩的律师当时对Law.com表示：“允许法官因合法言论被感知到的‘语气’或‘频率’而受到纪律处分，会助长任意执法，招致政治势力对司法部门的干预，并可能威胁到法治原则。本案为最高法院提供了一个紧迫的机会，可以恢复宪法的清晰性，并重新确立《第一修正案》对在职法官就公共事务发表言论权利的保护。” 司法部试图因《纽约时报》采访事件将联邦法官排除在移民案件之外。最高法院未受理科恩的案件，仅以无评论的方式驳回了其请愿书。
"Allowing judges to be disciplined based on the perceived ‘tone’ or ‘volume’ of lawful speech promotes arbitrary enforcement, invites political interference in the judicial branch, and threatens to undermine the rule of law," Cohen’s lawyer told Law.com at the time. "This case presents an urgent opportunity for the court to restore constitutional clarity and reestablish the First Amendment’s protection of the rights of sitting judges to speak on matters of public concern." DOJ MOVES TO BOOT FEDERAL JUDGES FROM IMMIGRATION CASES OVER NYT INTERVIEW The Supreme Court declined to take up Cohen’s case, denying his petition without comment.
宾夕法尼亚州司法行为委员会则主张，最高法院无需审理科恩的上诉，因为他的社交媒体活动无异于“党派助威”，而他的停职也体现了“对全国法官数十年来一贯遵循的常规规则的直接适用”。 费特曼在宾夕法尼亚州最高法院大法官疑似因反犹主义问题脱离民主党后发表看法。宾夕法尼亚州最高法院认定，科恩发帖的频率和语气使其看起来像是民主党的支持者。
Pennsylvania’s Judicial Conduct Board argued that the Supreme Court did not need to hear Cohen’s appeal because his social media activity amounted to "partisan cheerleading" and his suspension reflected a "straightforward application of familiar rules that judges around the country have followed for decades." FETTERMAN WEIGHS IN AFTER PA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE APPARENTLY SPLITS FROM DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVER ANTISEMITISM Pennsylvania’s highest court concluded that the volume and tone of Cohen’s posts made him appear to be an advocate for the Democratic Party.
2021年11月，科恩曾支持拜登的“重建更美好”法案，称该法案通过后将改善“无数美国人的生活”。一年后的拜登生日当天，科恩称拜登是“一位杰出的总统”，并表示期待他“取得更多成就”。联邦上诉法院维持伊利诺伊州备受争议的半自动枪支禁令。科恩还发布过一些表明具体政策立场的帖子，包括支持提高最低工资标准以及反对对选择性堕胎进行限制。
In November 2021, Cohen promoted Biden’s Build Back Better legislation, saying its passage would improve "many, many American lives." A year later, on Biden’s birthday, Cohen called him "an excellent President" and said he looked forward to "many more achievements." FEDERAL APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS CONTROVERSIAL ILLINOIS BAN ON SEMIAUTOMATIC GUNS Cohen also made posts taking specific policy positions, including one in favor of higher minimum wage laws and another against restrictions on elective abortions.
此外，科恩还强调自己在枪支政策方面的立场，其中包括一篇帖子指出，他在州立法机构任职期间，一直从美国国家步枪协会那里获得“F”级评价。
Cohen also highlighted his record on gun policy, including a post noting that he had consistently received an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association while serving in the state legislature.
科恩向最高法院提交的请愿书称，此次停职还导致他被剥夺了司法职位及此前公共服务所获得的养老金。
Cohen’s Supreme Court petition says the suspension also triggered the forfeiture of his judicial and prior public-service pensions.
代表科恩的律师事务所DLA Piper在周三未对福克斯新闻数字频道提出的评论请求作出回应。
DLA Piper, the law firm representing Cohen, did not respond Wednesday to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.