Ex-council member's claim of retaliatory arrest for criticizing local officials reaches Supreme Court
The Supreme Court weighs whether a Texas woman who served on a small-town council can pursue a retaliation claim after she was arrested following her criticisms of a senior official.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday is weighing whether a Texas woman who served on a small-town council can pursue a retaliation claim after she was arrested following her criticisms of a senior official.
Sylvia Gonzalez, then 72, was arrested in 2019 after recently taking office as a council member in Castle Hills, Texas, having run for election as a critic of the city manager.
She was charged with inappropriately removing a government document, identified as a citizen petition she had prepared.
Gonzalez said she accidentally muddled the petition with other papers.
The charges were ultimately dropped, but only after Gonzalez, who has no criminal record, spent a day in jail. She also quit the City Council.
Rating: 5