School Board Beats Appeal in Worker’s Anti-Trans Speech Case (1)

The Milwaukee school board’s firing of an elementary school counselor after a profanity-tinged speech against transgender rights at a political rally complies with free speech protections, the Seventh Circuit said Wednesday.

The district court was correct to deny counselor Marissa Darlingh’s bid for an injunction restoring her to the role and dismiss her First Amendment claims against the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit said.

Darlingh spoke in a traditional free-speech setting on an issue of public concern, but the school board “reasonably concluded” that the speech wasn’t compatible with her ...