Heffernan v. City of Paterson

*1416 Justice BREYER delivered the opinion of the Court.

The First Amendment generally prohibits government officials from dismissing or demoting an employee because of the employee's engagement in constitutionally protected political activity. See Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347 , 96 S.Ct. 2673 , 49 L.Ed.2d 547 (1976) ; Branti v. Finkel, 445 U.S. 507 , 100 S.Ct. 1287 , 63 L.Ed.2d 574 (1980) ; but cf. Civil Service Comm'n v. Letter Carriers, 413 U.S. 548 , 564, 93 S.Ct. 2880 , 37 L.Ed.2d 796 (1973). In this case a government official demoted an employee because the official believed, but incorrectly…