Justices, 5-4, Limit Whistleblower Suits (Alito Breaks Tie, Sides With Conservatives)

New York Times ^ | May 30, 2006

[jebeier]

These are not the droids you are looking for...

[gondramB]

>>The ruling sided with the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, which appealed an appellate court ruling which held that prosecutor Richard Ceballos was constitutionally protected when he wrote a memo questioning whether a county sheriff's deputy had lied in a search warrant affidavit.<<

That is exactly the kind of thing whistle blowers should be able to expose.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I was thinking more about the "weak minded fool" (or something to that effect) line from Jabba later on.

[Spktyr]

If you go public and blow the whistle on your private employer, you're going to get fired, too. All this does is say that the government may also fire you and you can't sue over it.

Besides, after basically knifing everyone else at your company in the back (whether it was justified or not), continuing to work there is usually not a good idea. When you go public, your career is over at wherever you work whether you want it to be or not.

[gondramB]

>>Besides, after basically knifing everyone else at your company in the back (whether it was justified or not), continuing to work there is usually not a good idea. When you go public, your career is over at wherever you work whether you want it to be or not.<<

We want and need government officials to be able to expose things like trumped up warrants or using the IRS to go after political enemies or the ATF trampling rights..its in our best interest.

[Spktyr]

He was protected - he can't be sued. But the employer still has the right to fire him.

[Spktyr]

You've never been a whistleblower, obviously. I have; and you *really* shouldn't continue to work for the same company after you do so.

[Mo1]

By a 5-4 vote, justices said the nation's 20 million public employees do not have carte blanche free speech rights to disclose government's inner-workings. New Justice Samuel Alito cast the tie-breaking vote.

Ping A Ling

[tomnbeverly]

Oh happy days.. NOW lets begin the prosecution of the CIA and congressional leaks on the NSA terrorist eavesdropping issue...

Hange em high judge.

[gov_bean_ counter]

BTW, that was sarcasm (look for it to be a left talking point). Kennedy too easily persuaded.

[Go Gordon]

Are you sure stifling whistleblowers is the way you want government to govern? Not me.

Stifling the ability to raise issues and limiting certain law suits are two vastly different issues.

[Mo1]

No need to predict anything. How did we find out about the Clintons going through FBI records looking for dirt? That's right. Whistleblower. The First Felons would have loved this decision.

It doesn't say no one can speak up .. it says that not "every statement" made is protected

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the court's majority, said the First Amendment does not protect "every statement a public employee makes in the course of doing his or her job."

There are certain procedures to follow when speaking out about something under the whistleblower protection laws

[Doctor Stochastic]

So Alito helps those trying to coverup the Clinton wrongdoings. No wonder the government is corrupt. It's dangerous to report any wrongdoing. (It was when I worked in a government-funded establishment. Complaints, reoports of illegal activity, etc., were grounds for dismissal.)

[Txsleuth]

Thanks...good news.

[ohioWfan]

Thanks for the ping, Mo.

(And thank you, President Bush)

[Doctor Stochastic]

It is not easy to get fired by the Government and usually takes years and lots of manhours.

It's actually easy. One just reports evidence of wrongdoing by the higher-ups. It's rather risky to report safety or security violations by the bosses.

[bandleader]

GOOD DECISION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gondramB]

>>You've never been a whistleblower, obviously. I have; and you *really* shouldn't continue to work for the same company after you do so.<<

I can certainly see how you would feel that way.

It seems to me though, that the government should be different than a company - a company can be ended by scandal, its owners can be punished in the market place but the government always continues and the people who are punished are we the people.

I suspect the practical effect of this ruling will be that at all levels of government, people who want to use the power of government to abuse others will feel empowered.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"So Alito helps those trying to coverup the Clinton wrongdoings"

No, the GOP (perennial cowards) could have DESTROYED the Clintons, but as usual, helped them cover everything up. The Daddy(revenue enhancers) Bush got married to Bill Clinton, which helped bill and his legacy look legitimate This helped to complete the GOP self- castration.

[verity]

" but am I off by saying this is a violation of 1st Amendment freedoms?"

Yes you are. The Supremes have voted!