Thomas William Ireland v. George P. Shultz, Secretary of State

This appeal brings before us a challenge by a former Department of State employee to his termination from federal employment a generation ago. The principal issue is whether the District Court erred in refusing to grant injunctive relief to appellant in the form of “retroactive reinstatement” to his former position. For the reasons that follow, we agree with the District Court’s ultimate conclusion that equitable relief should not lie.

The facts can be briefly stated. Mr. Ireland was employed by the State Department as a Foreign Service Staff Officer 1 in Europe. In late 1953, Mr. Ireland was…