Bailey v. Richardson
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
182 F.2d 46 (1950)
During a period of intense concern over federal-employee disloyalty, at-will federal employee Bailey (plaintiff) was accused of disloyalty by unidentified accusers. Although the government held hearings at which Bailey swore to her loyalty, it never disclosed who her accusers were or presented them, and it fired her based on an unexplained and unsubstantiated finding of disloyalty. Bailey sued federal officials including Richardson (defendants), arguing the firing without a fair opportunity to confront her accusers violated her Fifth Amendment due process rights. The district court ruled against her, and she appealed.
Whether an at-will federal employee has a property right in continued government employment sufficient to trigger due process protections before termination.