Opinion ID: 205199
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Right to an Attorney

Text: Asbury maintains that she “did the right thing” by telling a juvenile she had a right to an attorney.3 Asbury’s deposition testimony indicates that when a Detention Center juvenile returned from court, the young woman was visibly upset and claimed that she was to be sent to the Department of Youth Services (“DYS”). Asbury inquired whether the juvenile had an attorney present with her at court. When the juvenile stated that no attorney was present, Asbury advised her to write the presiding judicial official and request an attorney before her transfer to DYS. Asbury never explains why this advice constituted a matter of public concern. In any event, this advice did not touch on a matter of public concern. By her own admission, all Asbury did was provide private advice with the aim of helping this juvenile change the outcome of a proceeding; her speech does not reflect any type of attempt to notify the public about a problem with the juvenile justice system. 3 Asbury’s amended complaint does not include any reference to this speech. Accordingly, the motion for summary judgment is silent on the issue. Asbury references this speech, albeit in a cursory manner, in both her response brief opposing summary judgment and her opening brief before this Court. The district court addressed this speech in its opinion, and so, we shall also consider it here. -10-