The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a Texas ex-councilwoman who was thrown in jail in an act of political retaliation.
Sylvia Gonzalez and her attorneys at the nonprofit Institute for Justice sued Castle Hills Mayor JR Trevino and other officials, alleging they plotted to remove her from office as retaliation for criticizing the city manager, thereby violating her First Amendment rights. A Fifth Circuit court tossed her case, saying she didn't present required evidence to advance a 'retaliatory-arrest' case that would show others had not been arrested after engaging in similar conduct.
The statute is usually used in cases involving fake Social Security numbers, forgeries of official checks and counterfeit green cards, Institute for Justice senior counsel Anya Bidwell said. IJ looked at 10 years of Bexar County data and couldn't find 'anything even remotely similar' to Gonzalez's case, she added. Rather than seek a summons for the nonviolent misdemeanor, the special detective took the unusual step of asking for an arrest warrant, the lawsuit contends.
This is a great day for the First Amendment and Sylvia Gonzalez, who has courageously fought against retaliatory actions by government officials,' Bidwell said. 'The Supreme Court’s revision of its First Amendment retaliation doctrine ensures that Americans can seek justice when they have evidence of a retaliatory arrest.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Texas woman who claims she was arrested out of political retributionSylvia Gonzalez alleged the city of Castle Hills had arrested her on a minor charge in retaliation for criticizing the city manager.
Read more »
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Texas woman who claims she was arrested out of political retributionSylvia Gonzalez alleged the city of Castle Hills had arrested her on a minor charge in retaliation for criticizing the city manager.
Read more »
Supreme Court rules for ex-council member in Texas arrested after criticizing city officialLawrence Hurley covers the Supreme Court for NBC News.
Read more »
Supreme Court’s abortion pill ruling puts new focus on conservative Trump judge in TexasThe Supreme Court’s decision this week rebuffing an effort to restrict access to mifepristone is unlikely to be the final word on the abortion pill.
Read more »
Texas Supreme Court sides with state regulators hiking prices during 2021 winter stormThe Texas Supreme Court said, in part, “The [Public Utility] Commission has the expertise to manage the electric utility industry; the courts do not.'
Read more »
Texas Supreme Court keeps ‘Uplift Harris’ on hold, stopping Harris County from distributing guaranteed income fundsOn Friday, the Texas Supreme Court ruled against Harris County from sending financial assistance to in-need families under a new income pilot program after a political match between the Texas Attorney General.
Read more »