Dear John,

We just got some exciting news: Early next year, IJ will be at the U.S. Supreme Court twice.

 

Two weeks ago, we heard that the Court would be hearing our Takings case on behalf of Richie DeVillier. Today, we got the outstanding news that the Court will be hearing another IJ case in the same term ([link removed] ) .

This time, the Justices are taking up the case of Sylvia Gonzalez. Sylvia, a Texas grandmother, was thrown in jail in retaliation for speaking out against the city government. She endured harassment, false charges, and humiliation. 

 

In March, a federal district court judge denied qualified immunity (QI) to the Castle Hills officials who arrested her, allowing Sylvia’s claims against the officials and the city to move to trial. But in another exercise of the unfair privilege of qualified immunity, the officials appealed the QI ruling, further delaying the judicial process and evading accountability for their unconstitutional actions. And the 5th Circuit, in a divided opinion, granted the officials immunity.  

 

Now, the Supreme Court will hear the case and have ultimate judgment on whether the officials who spent months hatching a scheme to wrongfully punish Sylvia are entitled to immunity.

Through this case, the Court will rule not only on the issue of retaliation for exercising free speech, but also address the limits of qualified immunity. As you may know, the Court has punted on many QI petitions in the past few years, but today the justices agreed to finally address this unfounded doctrine and they did so via a case IJ has litigated from the ground up.

Please consider giving the support that enables us to stand with Sylvia for the long haul to restore accountability for government officials ([link removed] ) —and to uphold the fundamental principles of freedom and justice for all Americans. 

Scott

Scott G. Bullock

President and Chief Counsel

Institute for Justice

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