Robbie Autery v. Kevin Davis

Appellants Robbie Autery (“Autery”) and Shane Fulmer (“Fulmer”) appeal the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Appellee Kevin Davis, Sheriff of Chilton County, Alabama, (“Sheriff Davis”) arising out of their terminations as deputy sheriffs. They claim that their firings deprived them of substantive and procedural due process, freedom of association, and freedom of speech.

The issues presented on appeal are:

1. Whether termination of public service employment can give rise to a substantive due process claim?

2. Whether the absence of a pre-termination hearing by a state merit…