Home > Great American Court Cases > Rankin v. McPherson

Legal Citation: 483 U.S. 378 (1987)

Petitioner
Constable Walter Rankin

Respondent
Ardith McPherson

Petitioner's Claim
That the respondent's dismissal was a reasonable exercise of the government's interest in maintaining an efficient workplace.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Billy E. Lee

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Lloyd N. Cutler

Justices for the Court
Harry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall (writing for the Court), Lewis F. Powell, Jr., John Paul Stevens

Justices Dissenting
William H. Rehnquist, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Byron R. White

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
24 June 1987

Decision
The Court held that the respondent's speech was on a matter of public concern, and was therefore protected by the First...