Engineers Triumph in First Amendment Rights Cases – BNN Breaking

Engineers Win Landmark First Amendment Cases Against State Licensing Boards

In an era where freedom of speech is under constant scrutiny, two unlicensed engineers have stood up against the system, challenging the authority of state boards in Oregon and North Carolina, and securing a landmark victory for their First Amendment rights. The cases of Mats Jarlstrom and Wayne Nutt have become symbols of resistance against the suppression of free speech and professional opinion in the field of engineering.

In Oregon, Mats Jarlstrom, an engineer unlicensed in the state, was engaged in an uphill battle against the state licensing board. His research on yellow light timing was met with attempts of suppression, as it underscored the potential danger from shortened yellow light times. These times, allegedly manipulated to increase revenue through traffic citations, posed a significant risk to peoples safety. Despite the boards resistance, Jarlstrom persisted, successfully arguing that his research should not be stonewalled.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Wayne Nutt, a retired engineer, faced similar challenges. Despite having a career in chemical engineering from 1967 to 2013, Nutt was warned by the Board of Examiners and Surveyors not to offer his expertise on engineering matters without a professional engineers license. This demand came despite Nutt being exempt from the licensing requirement due to an industrial exception.

Refusing to be silenced, Nutt sued the board, securing representation from the Institute for Justice. A federal court ruled in his favor, stating that his expert opinion is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be legally suppressed by the state. The court cited the boards attempts to stifle Nutts testimony by implying he would be breaking the law as a violation of his First Amendment rights.

Both cases culminated in a resounding affirmation of constitutional rights: the government may regulate the act of engineering, but it cannot regulate the speech of engineers. Through their tenacity, Jarlstrom and Nutt have set a precedent that echoes far beyond their individual cases, marking a significant win for the freedom of speech within the engineering community and beyond.

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Engineers Triumph in First Amendment Rights Cases - BNN Breaking