"Here in America, we do not arrest our political opponents."

That's the top line in a federal judge's ruling in a lawsuit filed on behalf of Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko against several other County officials.

The federal lawsuit claims Frenchko's constitutional rights were violated by Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe, Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa, and Former Commissioner Frank Fuda.

The 81-page ruling from Judge J. Philip Calabrese explains that Frenchko's First and Fourth Amendment rights were, in fact, violated by the defendants.

Frenchko's attorney, David Betras, says the ruling is a big win for his client.

One of the incidents detailed in the ruling happened on July 7, 2022. At a regularly scheduled commissioners meeting, Frenchko was arrested and charged with disrupting a public meeting. The arrest occurred while former clerk Paula Vivoda-Klotz was reading a letter from Sheriff Monroe accusing Frenchko of dishonesty and demanding an apology from her. Monroe's letter was in response to Frenchko bringing up complaints from a resident regarding inadequate medical care for inmates at the Trumbull County Jail, which Monroe said "had no basis in fact."

The defendants claim Frenchko interrupted Vivoda-Klotz and the commissioners until two Sheriff's deputies ordered her to leave the meeting and placed her under arrest. The criminal charge against her was later dismissed.

The judge ruled that Frenchko was wrongfully arrested, and her speech was protected by the First Amendment. The ruling also stated that the deputies did not have probable cause to arrest her.

It will be up to a jury to decide if some or all of the men conspired to arrest Frenchko.

The ruling also determined that the Sheriff and his deputies are not protected by qualified immunity in this case and, therefore, can be held liable both personally and professionally.

The judge did grant the county some summary judgment claims.

Cantalamessa and Fuda declined to comment on the matter. 21 News has also reached out to Monroe and his attorney and is awaiting a response.