Simpson County, Kentucky, October 19, 2025
News Summary
Mason Barnes, Judge/Executive of Simpson County, is embroiled in a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the Liberty Justice Center. The lawsuit, centered on whistleblower Joel Peyton’s claims of censorship related to unethical land purchase criticisms, alleges that Barnes violated Peyton’s rights after blocking him on Facebook. This case follows an ethics ruling that found Barnes guilty of violations in a property rezoning process tied to his construction business. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with a possible settlement expected soon.
Simpson County, Kentucky – Simpson County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes is facing a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the Liberty Justice Center. The lawsuit, which alleges that Barnes violated whistleblower Joel Peyton’s First Amendment rights, was submitted on March 12, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
The case centers around Peyton’s online criticism of a 2023 land purchase made by the Simpson County Industrial Authority. According to the Liberty Justice Center, Barnes allegedly censored Peyton’s comments after he exposed unethical behavior by county officials, including irregularities associated with the land deal.
Investigations into the land purchase began last year, prompted by open records requests from Peyton and others. These inquiries exposed questionable personal credit card charges incurred by the former director of the Industrial Authority, leading to that director’s resignation and the subsequent cancellation of the controversial land acquisition.
The controversy deepened when concerns arose about Barnes building a home on land sold by the Industrial Authority, which had been rezoned for residential development. The Barren River Regional Ethics Board later found that Barnes violated ethics rules related to the rezoning process, having voted on property rezoning without disclosing his role as a developer.
In the wake of the ethics ruling, Peyton claims that Barnes retaliated against him by blocking him on Facebook and publicly naming him in a Facebook post aimed at discrediting the whistleblower group. Peyton alleges that Barnes’ actions were a deliberate attempt to suppress his speech regarding government misconduct.
The Liberty Justice Center argues that social media pages belonging to government officials should be considered public forums under the First Amendment, thus any form of censorship is a violation of free speech rights. Barnes’ attorney countered that Barnes acted within legal bounds, citing the complex relationship between social media and public office, and argued that blocking individuals does not equate to infringement on rights.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting Barnes from censoring public comments on social media. Peyton’s legal representation expressed gratitude to the Liberty Justice Center for their support in fighting against censorship.
The conflict originally sparked when Peyton and others filed an ethics complaint against Barnes, following his vote in favor of a rezoning ordinance that appeared to benefit his construction business. Although previous investigations by the ethics board found no evidence that Barnes directly influenced the planning and zoning commission, they still concluded that he had engaged in ethical violations.
As the case progressed, attorneys filed a notice to dismiss the lawsuit by August 15, 2025, indicating a potential settlement reached between Barnes and Peyton regarding the accusations of censorship on social media. The case is expected to be officially settled by July 18, 2025.
FAQs
What are the main allegations against Mason Barnes?
Mason Barnes is accused of violating whistleblower Joel Peyton’s First Amendment rights by censoring Peyton’s comments about unethical behavior related to a 2023 land purchase by the Simpson County Industrial Authority.
What does the lawsuit seek?
The lawsuit seeks a permanent order to prevent Mason Barnes from censoring public comments online.
When was the lawsuit filed?
The lawsuit was filed on March 12, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
What was the outcome of the ethics investigation against Barnes?
The Barren River Regional Ethics Board found that Mason Barnes violated ethics rules related to the rezoning process but did not find evidence that he influenced the planning and zoning commission.
Key Features Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Lawsuit Filed | March 12, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky |
| Allegations | Violation of First Amendment rights and government censorship |
| Involved Parties | Mason Barnes (Simpson County Judge/Executive), Joel Peyton (whistleblower), Liberty Justice Center |
| Ethics Findings | Barnes violated ethics rules regarding property rezoning |
| Proposed Settlement | Notice to dismiss the lawsuit filed by August 15, 2025, with a settlement expected by July 18, 2025 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Former Educator Sues Universities Over First Amendment Rights
Surge in Academic Dismissals Raises Eyebrows on College Campuses
Kentucky Attorney General Sues Roblox Over Child Safety Concerns
Educators Challenge Terminations Over Social Media Posts
Big Win for Harvard in Funding Dispute with Trump Administration
California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas Under Fire
Federal Judge Stops Texas Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Schools
Kentucky Voters Reject Amendment 2 on School Funding
Funding Battle: U.S. Judge Challenges Trump’s Cuts to Harvard
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Nightmare in Salvadoran Prison
Additional Resources
- WBKO: Simpson County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes Sued
- Wikipedia: First Amendment to the United States Constitution
- BG Daily News: Lawsuit Updates
- Google Search: First Amendment cases
- Lane Report: Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems Expansion
- Google Scholar: First Amendment lawsuits
- Lebanon Democrat: What’s in Store for Franklin-Simpson in 2025?
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Ethics
- AOL: Storm Damage Survey
- Google News: Kentucky lawsuits
Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER
The BOWLING GREEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBowlingGreen.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bowling Green, Warren County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Corvette Homecoming, International Festival, concerts at SKyPAC, and sports events at Beech Bend Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, plus leading businesses in automotive, apparel, and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom, and Med Center Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELexingtonKY.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
