The ACLU of Maryland announces settlement in the social media banning case against Gov. Hogan

For those who celebrate their ability to respectfully disagree and argue with elected officials, Monday marks a major step forward

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has announced that the state Board of Public Works approved a settlement reached in the social media banning case brought against Governor Larry Hogan.

Under the settlement, the state will now have to pay $65,000 dollars and create a new social media policy for Hogan's official social media.

Last summer, the non-profit organization filed a lawsuit on behalf of 4 people whose comments were blocked or deleted from the governor's official Facebook page.

The suit claimed the removal of those comments were a violation of the four people's first First Amendment rights.

The state now has until Apil 11th to make the agreed changes to the governor's social media policy.

Back in August of last year, the governor's office released a statement calling the lawsuit "frivolous" and "without merit".