Opinion ID: 779635
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Association Claim

Text: 20 An employee can establish a violation of his association rights if he demonstrates that (1) political affiliation and/or beliefs were substantial or motivating factors behind [his] dismissal; and (2)[his] position[] did not require political allegiance. Jantzen, 188 F.3d at 1251 (quotations omitted). 5 For purposes of this appeal, Appellants have conceded that Bass' affiliation with Vorhies and lack of affiliation with the Sheriff were the motivating factors behind the removal of his commission. Similarly, they do not argue that Bass' position requires political allegiance to the Sheriff as a matter of law. Instead, Appellants argue that they are entitled to qualified immunity because Bass' right to affiliate himself with Vorhies, an unannounced candidate, was not clearly established at the time his commission was removed. 21 It is clear that the First Amendment protects employees from official pressure ... to work for political candidates not of the worker's own choice. Connick, 461 U.S. at 149, 103 S.Ct. 1684; see also O'Hare Truck Serv., Inc. v. City of Northlake, 518 U.S. 712, 720, 116 S.Ct. 2353, 135 L.Ed.2d 874 (1996) (observing that [t]here is no doubt employee could not be discharged for refusing to contribute to incumbent's campaign). It is also clearly established that the First Amendment prohibits the dismissal of an employee because of his privately held political beliefs. See Branti v. Finkel, 445 U.S. 507, 516-17, 100 S.Ct. 1287, 63 L.Ed.2d 574 (1980). Thus, support of or membership in a political party is not a valid ground for termination of a government employee whose position does not demand political loyalty. See id. at 517, 100 S.Ct. 1287; see also Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 351, 357, 96 S.Ct. 2673, 49 L.Ed.2d 547 (1976) (plurality opinion) (holding discharge of persons who failed to support or join political party unconstitutional). Furthermore, even at the time Bass' commission was removed, it was clear that there is no meaningful distinction for First Amendment purposes between nonpartisan political alignment and membership in a political party. See Green v. Henley, 924 F.2d 185, 187 (10th Cir.1991) (equating political loyalty to party affiliation); Dickeson v. Quarberg, 844 F.2d 1435, 1441 (10th Cir.1988) (equating party affiliation to particular political association and support of candidate). 22 Bass, like the partisans in Elrod and Branti, suffered an adverse employment action because his political alignment and beliefs were at odds with his employer's. The plaintiffs in those cases were not required to demonstrate that they suffered an adverse employment action because of their support for an actual candidate. Rather, it was sufficient that they were fired for failing to endorse or pledge allegiance to a particular political ideology. See Branti, 445 U.S. at 517, 100 S.Ct. 1287; Elrod, 427 U.S. at 351, 357, 96 S.Ct. 2673 (plurality opinion); see also Rutan, 497 U.S. at 76, 110 S.Ct. 2729 (holding denial of promotions, transfers, or rehires for failure to affiliate with and support the Republican Party violates First Amendment). Bass was fired for the same reason: he did not change his personal belief that an individual with Vorhies' philosophy would make a better sheriff than Sheriff Richards. Because a reasonable official would understand that Bass' commission could not be removed simply because of his political alignment and beliefs, Appellants are not entitled to qualified immunity from the association claim.