Opinion ID: 11344
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cabrol's Expressive Conduct

Text: Cabrol also advances a First Amendment claim based on retaliation for symbolic speech, citing his conduct in not getting rid of his chickens following the mayor's request and his attendance of the council meeting in which he understood that the proposed ordinance amendment would be discussed. In some situations, nonverbal conduct can constitute protected speech for purposes of the First Amendment. See, e.g., Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 14-23, 96 S.Ct. 612, 632-36, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976) (campaign expenditures are political expression); Spence v. Washington, 418 U.S. 405, 410-11, 94 S.Ct. 2727, 2730, 41 L.Ed.2d 842 (1974) (taping black peace symbols to United States flag in 1970 expressed political criticisms that viewers understood); Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Community School District, 393 U.S. 503, 505, 89 S.Ct. 733, 736, 21 L.Ed.2d 731 (1969) (wearing armbands to protest Vietnam War is protected symbolic act). The question of the protected status of speech is one of law, and as such, we review the issue de novo. Stewart v. Parish of Jefferson, 951 F.2d 681, 683 (5th Cir.1992); Kirkland v. Northside 10 I.S.D., 890 F.2d 794, 797 (5th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 496 U.S. 926, 110 S.Ct. 2620, 110 L.Ed.2d 641 (1990). In considering Cabrol's conduct, we keep in mind the Supreme Court's reject ion in United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367, 376, 88 S.Ct. 1673, 1678, 20 L.Ed.2d 672 (1968), of the view that an apparently limitless variety of conduct can be labeled speech' whenever the person engaging in conduct intends thereby to express an idea. See also City of Dallas v. Stanglin, 490 U.S. 19, 25, 109 S.Ct. 1591, 1595, 104 L.Ed.2d 18 (1989) (possible to find kernel of expression in almost every activity a person undertakes ... but such a kernel is not sufficient to bring the activity within the protection of the First Amendment.); New Orleans S.S. Ass'n v. General Longshore Workers, 626 F.2d 455, 462 n. 5 (5th Cir.1980) (noting that all communication involves conduct), aff'd sub nom. Jacksonville Bulk Terminals, Inc. v. Int'l Longshoremen's Ass'n, 457 U.S. 702, 102 S.Ct. 2672, 73 L.Ed.2d 327 (1982). For activities to constitute expressive conduct and fall within the scope of the First Amendment, they must be sufficiently imbued with elements of communication. Spence, 418 U.S. at 409, 94 S.Ct. at 2730. In deciding whether particular conduct possesses sufficient communicative elements to bring the First Amendment into play, we ask whether an intent to convey a particularized message was present and whether the likelihood was great that the message would be understood by those who viewed it. Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 404, 109 S.Ct. 2533, 2539, 105 L.Ed.2d 342 (1989); United States v. Hayward, 6 F.3d 1241, 1249 (7th Cir.1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1369, 128 L.Ed.2d 46 (1994). In considering such, we look to the appellant's activity, combined with the factual context and environment in which it was undertaken. Spence, 418 U.S. at 409-10, 94 S.Ct. at 2729-30; Steirer v. Bethlehem Area School District, 987 F.2d 989, 995 (3rd Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 824, 114 S.Ct. 85, 126 L.Ed.2d 53 (1993). The nature of Cabrol's activities, combined with the factual context and environment in which undertaken, do not amount to an expressive act for purposes of the First Amendment. Cf. Buckley, 424 U.S. 1, 96 S.Ct. 612; Spence, 418 U.S. 405, 94 S.Ct. 2727; Tinker, 393 U.S. 503, 89 S.Ct. 733. In order for a message to be delivered by conduct, it must, in context, be reasonably apprehended by 11 viewers. See Spence, 418 U.S. 405, 94 S.Ct. 2727; Tinker, 393 U.S. 503, 89 S.Ct. 733; Steirer, 987 F.2d at 995. There was no likelihood, see Johnson, 491 U.S. at 404, 109 S.Ct. at 2539-40, that Cabrol's activity, combined with its context and environment, communicated a message to viewers. Cabrol was not doing anything that he had not been doing previously. His continued maintenance of the chickens in his yard did not occur in the context of, for example, any accompanying conduct or speech or symbol, and there is no allegation that either the proposed amendment or the mayor's request had entered the local public consciousness. There was no context that would allow the continued residence of the chickens in Cabrol's yard to resonate a message to viewers that Cabrol opposed the proposed ordinance amendment. Compare Spence, 418 U.S. 405, 94 S.Ct. 2727 (current events and timing allowed message to be communicated). With no likelihood that viewers would perceive any message, there is no expressive conduct to be protected by the First Amendment. See Steirer, 987 F.2d at 997 (no evidence that people in community who saw students performing community service were likely to perceive actions as expression of belief in value of community service or altruism). The second instance of conduct on which Cabrol relies, his attendance at a council meeting at which he understood that the ordinance amendment was to be discussed, also fails to support his claim. He did not speak at the meeting and his attendance at council meetings was part of his job performance. As such, his attendance is not protected expressive conduct. General job performance, lacking assertion of specific speech activity, fails to resemble the expressive conduct at stake in cases such as Tinker, Spence, and Valeo. Guillory v. St. Landry Parish Police Jury, 802 F.2d 822, 826 (5th Cir.1986). D. Qualified Immunity In 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions in which qualified immunity is asserted, we, as previously noted, first determine if a constitutional violation has occurred. Siegert v. Gilley, 500 U.S. 226, 111 S.Ct. 1789, 114 L.Ed.2d 277 (1991). Because we find no constitutional violations, as explained in our discussion, we need not address the qualified immunity issue. 12 E. State Law Claims Regarding the district court's dismissal of Cabrol's state law claims, we review such a decision for an abuse of discretion. Laird v. Board of Trustees of Inst'ns of Higher Learning of Miss., 721 F.2d 529, 534 (5th Cir.1983). The district court has the discretionary power to adjudicate supplemental state law claims after dismissing the federal claims that originally served as the basis of its jurisdiction. Cinel v. Connick, 15 F.3d 1338, 1344 (5th Cir.) (citing United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966)), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 189, 130 L.Ed.2d 122 (1994). After reviewing the factors involved in the exercise of the district court's discretion, see Id.; Laird, 721 F.2d at 534 (citing Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 86 S.Ct. 1130), we affirm the district court's decision. Cabrol failed to provide any reason that his state law claims should be reinstated and remanded. After reviewing the customary considerations, e.g., judicial economy, convenience, fairness and comity, see Cinel, 15 F.3d at 1344, we find no support for the suggestion that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing the state law claims. See Laird, 721 F.2d at 534-35.