School District Employee's Complaint Was Not On A Matter Of Public Concern And Not Protected By First Amendment
The 11th
Circuit has held that although
a school district employee's complaints that unqualified persons were being
appointed to positions in the school district touched on an important matter of
public interest, her speech, which centered predominantly around, and were
driven by, her displeasure with having been denied promotions she thought she
deserved, was not on a matter of public concern, and thus not protected by First
Amendment. The employee did not address her complaints to the public and voiced
her concerns as a disgruntled employee rather than as a citizen concerned about
corruption.
Myles v. Richmond
County Bd. of Educ.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction includes Alabama, Georgia and Florida.