Opinion ID: 2547919
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Adverse Consequence of Gilchrist's Breach of Public-Employment Duty To Maintain Scientific Integrity In Her Work Performance

Text: ¶ 7 While employed as a police department's forensic chemist, Gilchrist had a duty to maintain scientific integrity in her work. Obedience to this level of performance is exacted by the public-law standards that govern constitutional strictures for guilt determination in criminal prosecutions. That duty's breach is now advanced as misconduct (in the § 2-406 sense) to defeat her claim for unemployment compensation. Gilchrist's witness immunity [13] will not protect her against this adverse consequence of public employment. Shielded by that immunity is solely civil liability in damages for harm occasioned by one's testimonial falsehood. ¶ 8 In short, the denial of unemployment benefits is a sanctioned adverse collateral public-law consequence of Gilchrist's testimonial improprieties. [14]