Judge rules Kennedy Center must allow Dem lawmaker to attend board meeting

Source: The Hill

03/14/26 11:50 AM ET


A federal judge ruled Saturday that the Kennedy Center must provide Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) a “meaningful opportunity” to participate in next week’s board meeting on the storied institution’s revamp, but they don’t have to let her vote. Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board, alleged that she was being barred from the March 16 session. Her lawyer later conceded she was in fact extended an invitation; it just went to her email spam folder.

In his 37-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said federal law prevents Beatty’s categorical exclusion from the meeting.

“Rarely should a trustee, in any setting, be denied all material information and any opportunity to voice her dissent on a vote as consequential as one to close and potentially rebuild the trust’s sole piece of real estate,” Cooper wrote.

But the appointee of former President Obama didn’t give the Democratic congresswoman all she asked for. Cooper said it wasn’t clear that she has the legal right to actually vote at the meeting, so he wouldn’t demand it yet. “While her statutory arguments are persuasive, the question whether the statute provides a right to vote is not clearcut, and the irreparable harm and balance of the equities persuade the Court to stay its hand, for now,” Cooper wrote.

Read more: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5784288-judge-rules-kennedy-center-beatty/