Circuit Court of Jackson County v. Division of Employment Security

SPINDEN, Judge.

The circuit court of Jackson County fired one of its employees, Wendell Whittaker, for using a firearm to threaten a woman and for misusing his court identification card. Whittaker filed a claim for unemployment compensation. The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission ruled that Whittaker’s firing had not resulted from misconduct “connected with his work,” so he still was eligible for unemployment benefits. The circuit court appeals. We reverse.

The circuit court’s family division employed Whittaker for more than five months as a youth worker at a school for juvenile boys. He…