Deputies fired for "like" of Sheriff candidate; 1A?

[TMF]

Don't see how this would be okay. Would be like Obama firing a Secret Service agent for "liking" a Mitt Romney page.

http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-argues-free-speech-225008185.html

Facebook users might want to be more careful about who and what they designate as a "Like" on the social networking site. As one deputy sheriff in Virginia found out, putting all your “Like†behind the wrong person could cost you your job.

During a 2009 election, the deputy and some co-workers "Liked" the guy running against their boss for sheriff of Hampton, Va. Well, the incumbent won and promptly canned all of those who committing this egregious Facebook faux pas.

The deputy sued to get his job back, but the courts ruled that clicking on the "Like" button is not protected free speech. Now Facebook and the ACLU are stepping in to argue that "Liking" a political candidate is a verbal and a symbolic expression of support worthy of constitutional protection.

Obviously, neither James Madison nor Alexander Hamilton could be reached for comment. They might have difficulty recognizing the country they helped forge more than 200 years ago—still they probably would agree this case presents an interesting precedent regarding how the U.S. legal system recognizes social networking in the future.

—Larry Greenemeier

[Dolomite_supafly]

This happens in my jurisdiction ever election cycle. Officers, as well as those who support the sheriff's office, get fired for backing the wrong candidate. Put the wrong election sign in your front yard and you can find yourself looking for a job. Don't put any sign in your front yard and you could also be looking for a new job for not supporting the winner. I have known good officersthat have been fired for trying to remain as neutral and not picking sides.

In the bigger jurisdictions they have a merit councel to protect officers. In smaller counties the officers have no rights or protections under the law. On top of this most smaller jurisdictions do not pay anything comparable to a decent wage. Our officers make $10.50-$11 an hour and have no health insurance.

There is a substantial turnover in my county every time there is a new sheriff elected. Our current sheriff brought in most of his own crew once he was elected.

Dolomite

[TMF]

In the bigger jurisdictions they have a merit councel to protect officers. In smaller counties the officers have no rights or protections under the law. On top of this most smaller jurisdictions do not pay anything comparable to a decent wage. Our officers make $10.50-$11 an hour and have no health insurance.

Wow. They'd be better off working at Walmart. At least there they don't have to worry about getting shot or sued.

[peejman]

Small town politics, alive and well. A very interesting legal precedent indeed. Is VA an "at will" employment state like TN?

[Jonnin]

People repeatedly ask me why I do not have a FB account.... ^^^^^^ that is why. I would feel inclined to post what I think, and that would become public, and someone who disagrees would find a way to screw me.

[sigmtnman]

People repeatedly ask me why I do not have a FB account.... ^^^^^^ that is why. I would feel inclined to post what I think, and that would become public, and someone who disagrees would find a way to screw me.

Sounds suspicious.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/08/06/beware-tech-abandoners-people-without-facebook-accounts-are-suspicious/

[Jonnin]

the word is suspect. Not having an account is suspect. When the folks at forbes cannot even speak english as well as guys in a third world country, you know there is a problem.

[dieewigeteufel]

This happens in my jurisdiction ever election cycle. Officers, as well as those who support the sheriff's office, get fired for backing the wrong candidate. Put the wrong election sign in your front yard and you can find yourself looking for a job. Don't put any sign in your front yard and you could also be looking for a new job for not supporting the winner. I have known good officersthat have been fired for trying to remain as neutral and not picking sides.

In the bigger jurisdictions they have a merit councel to protect officers. In smaller counties the officers have no rights or protections under the law. On top of this most smaller jurisdictions do not pay anything comparable to a decent wage. Our officers make $10.50-$11 an hour and have no health insurance.

There is a substantial turnover in my county every time there is a new sheriff elected. Our current sheriff brought in most of his own crew once he was elected.

Dolomite

I knew they didn't make much money, but that's even lower than I expected. Heck, I make more than that working in retail.

[leroy]

There may be a "condition of employment" thing here. Sometimes in govt jobs, there are "conditions of employment" rules that you sign prior to bein hired. "No campaigning" may be one of them. Not sure though. It seems odd to me that it was a slam dunk that the firing would stick if there wasnt something like that.

leroy