Awtry v. United States

This case is before the court on cross-motions for summary judgment. Plaintiffs are former officials of the Department of Agriculture, transferred or removed on a change of administration for reasons more or less political, and now holding different and less desirable government positions, or none. They claim the benefit of the first amendment rule which, as adumbrated in Branti v. Finkel, 445 U.S. 507 (1980), they say raises a bar against the personnel actions meted out to them. We hold that the petition of all of them must be dismissed as wanting equity, though for varied reasons. Our…