Rankin v. McPherson
United States Supreme Court
483 U.S. 378 (1987)
Relevant factsFree
After hearing of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, clerical employee McPherson (plaintiff), working in a non-public-facing constable's office, remarked to a coworker that she wasn't surprised given Reagan's welfare-cutting agenda and hoped a future attempt would succeed; another employee overheard and reported the comment, and constable Rankin (defendant) fired McPherson after a meeting about the remark. McPherson sued, claiming the firing violated her First Amendment free-speech rights.
IssueFree
Whether a state may fire a public employee for private speech on a matter of public concern without violating the employee's First Amendment rights.