Opinion ID: 498703
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Press Office Employees

Text: 12 While plaintiffs Santiago Correa and Torres Lopez steadfastly maintained that their duties were solely technical, the incumbent press officer, Velez, testified that all members of his office participated in writing press releases, editing speeches and tapes, writing letters and messages for the Governor, and advising other agencies on press matters. The recording technicians not only performed the foregoing duties, but tape recorded the Governor in hastily called sessions and sent tapes to radio stations, logged in every speech and press conference, verified the existence or non-existence of any questioned gubernatorial remark, were present at off-the-record conferences and strategy discussions, and could erase or copy any tape. The district court could and did credit this testimony. 6 13 The duties so described fall within the specific domain recognized by the Court in Branti: 14 the Governor of a State may appropriately believe that the official duties of various assistants who help him write speeches, explain his views to the press, or communicate with the legislature cannot be performed effectively unless those persons share his political beliefs and party commitments. 15 445 U.S. at 518, 100 S.Ct. at 1295. We conclude that because the Press Office handled matters potentially subject to partisan political differences and because the positions held by Santiago Correa and Torres Lopez inherently encompassed the communication of the Governor's official positions, political affiliation can be said to have been an appropriate requirement for effective performance. See Mendez-Palou v. Rohena-Betancourt, 813 F.2d 1255, 1258 (1st Cir.1987); Brown v. Trench, 787 F.2d 167 (3d Cir.1986) (assistant director of public information for county subject to removal based on party affiliation); see also Vazquez Rios v. Hernandez Colon, 819 F.2d at 327 (Governor and co-defendants entitled to qualified immunity from damages for dismissal of editing assistant). Thus, the district court did not err in concluding that the defendants could fire Santiago Correa and Torres Lopez because of their political affiliations. 16 That part of the judgment dismissing the complaints of Santiago Correa and Torres Lopez is affirmed. The remainder of the judgment dismissing the complaints of Ramos Cruz, Castro de Leon, and Colon Santana is vacated. The case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Half costs to appellants.