The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a group of former deputy sheriffs in Hampton, Virginia, who claimed he lost their jobs in retaliation for his “liking” the Facebook page of a candidate running against their boss for city sheriff. The plaintiffs allege that Robert’s retaliated against them in a violation of their First Amendment rights after he saw that they had “liked” another sheriff candidate’s campaign page and other instances where they spoke out in support of the other candidate. They were fired when Sheriff Roberts won his re-election campaign.
The case is Bland et al v. Roberts, which came up to the Fourth Circuit after the district court granted summary judgment against them. The Fourth Circuit affirmed in part, reverse in part, and remanded this case for trial.
Read the full opinion here.
