Protected speech?
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled on whether sticking the middle finger up at a police officer was punishable or protected free speech. The case is a little more complicated than just that question, as the motorist did violate the law and earned a citation before the obscene gesture. The officer issued a lesser ticket than he could have after the stop. The motorist gave her thanks with one finger once she figured the stop was over. The officer then upgraded the ticket to a level he could have issued originally. Another technical detail, the cop/local government argue that denying officers’ right to determine such punishments will inhibit their rights to qualified immunity–something police officers and many other government workers have in that they should not get sued for doing their J.O.B. Read the opinion (same below) and answer the questions that follow.
Examine a summary of this case and the court’s ruling from National Public Radio, read the court opinion below, and answer the questions that follow.
Questions:
1. What were the basic facts of the case, the story?
2. What government action is at question?
3. What was this court’s reasoning?
4. In what circumstances, do you suppose, might the same gesture still not be protected speech?
If interested, there is an entire, and evolving, body of law around citizens, the cops, and the middle finger. Check out this recent Wake Forest Law Review article.
Photo/Image: By Newton Graffiti