A Florida police officer who alleges he lost his job because he supported the mayor’s political rival is entitled to sue over violation of his First Amendment rights, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled, reversing the lower court’s decision.
“The First Amendment generally prohibits government retaliation against a person for exercising his rights to free speech and association, including supporting the political party and candidates of his choice,” Judge Robin Rosenbaum wrote in an opinion released Wednesday, joined by Eleventh Circuit Judge Adalberto Jordan and Judge Eugene Siler Jr. of the Sixth Circuit, sitting by designation.
