Cowboy Hats & The First Amendment Tony Seno walked away not much richer in dollars, but with the satisfaction of a judgment upholding his right and that of other citizens to speak to elected boards, hat-on or hat-off. After a four-hour federal court arbitration hearing, Seno accepted a settlement of $10,500 from Lincoln County for an incident connected to two commission meetings in May 2005, when Seno refused to remove his cowboy hat while speaking at the podium. Former commission chairman Rick Simpson ordered Seno to be removed at the second meeting. A federal judge in January ruled Simpson violated Seno's First Amendment rights and ordered the two sides to a settlement hearing. Seno said the important concept established was that the average citizen has the protection of the Constitution, no matter how much money he has or the position he holds....