Photo: greenleaf123 / iStock / Getty Images
(Creston, IA) -- A federal judge has partially ruled in favor of a Creston Community High School teacher who was placed on leave after commenting on Charlie Kirk’s death.
Melisa Crook sued the district, arguing her First Amendment rights were violated when she was disciplined for a Facebook post she made on her personal account. The judge agreed that the district likely infringed on her rights, noting that Crook made the comment on her own time, from a personal page, and was not speaking as an employee of the Creston Community School District.
The ruling also said the district failed to show that her post caused a disruption at school. Of the more than 100 calls the district received about her comments, the judge noted that only one came from a student or parent.
As part of her request for a preliminary injunction, Crook asked to be reinstated to her position. The judge denied that request but ruled that the district cannot take any further adverse action against her employment while the case continues.