Opinion ID: 585912
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Acting Within Scope of Discretionary Authority

Text: 18 In applying the objective reasonableness standard to Sheriff Gallagher's conduct of demoting Stough, this court initially must determine if Sheriff Gallagher has satisfied the first part of the Rich analysis. This court noted in Rich that a government official can prove he acted within the scope of his discretionary authority by showing 'objective circumstances which would compel the conclusion that his actions were undertaken pursuant to the performance of his duties and within the scope of his authority.'  Rich, 841 F.2d at 1564 (quoting Barker v. Norman, 651 F.2d 1107, 1121 (5th Cir. Unit A 1981)). Sheriff Gallagher was clearly acting within the scope of his discretionary authority because as a Florida sheriff he had absolute control over the selection and retention of his deputy sheriffs. See Tanner v. McCall, 625 F.2d 1183, 1186 (5th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 451 U.S. 907, 101 S.Ct. 1975, 68 L.Ed.2d 295 (1981). Since Sheriff Gallagher had absolute control over Stough's selection and retention, it necessarily follows that the act of demoting Stough was in Sheriff Gallagher's discretionary authority.