Moss v. Martin

WOOD, Circuit Judge.

Political patronage lies at the heart of this case — this time, favoritism based on political party affiliation in the Highway Sign Shop of the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”). William H. Moss worked as the Chief of that shop from 2000 until April 2004, when he was fired to make room for an employee chosen by the administration of then-Governor Rod Blagojevich. Moss sued a number of state officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, asserting that his rights under the First Amendment and the due process clause were violated. The district court dismissed all claims on…