Kentucky Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee is a legal instruction specific to public employees in Kentucky who believe they have been wrongfully discharged or denied promotion due to their political beliefs or affiliations. This instruction addresses cases where a key employee alleges a violation of their First Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. In Kentucky, public employees are afforded certain protections under the First Amendment when it comes to their political speech and affiliations. Public employees have the right to engage in political activities, express their opinions, and support political candidates of their choice without fear of adverse employment actions. When a public employee holds a role as a key employee, their position is deemed critical to the functioning and management of the government agency or department. Key employees typically have substantial decision-making authority, management responsibilities, or have access to sensitive information. In these circumstances, an employee's political loyalty could be an important factor in determining their suitability for such a role. The Kentucky Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 recognizes that public employees, including key employees, have a right to be free from political discrimination in the workplace. It outlines the essential elements that a plaintiff must establish to prove a claim of discharge or failure to promote based on political disloyalty: 1. The plaintiff must demonstrate that they were a public employee at the time of the alleged wrongful discharge or failure to promote. 2. The plaintiff must establish that they engaged in protected political activity or held a particular political belief. 3. The plaintiff must show that the defendant (typically the employer or government agency) took adverse employment action against them. 4. The plaintiff must demonstrate that their political activity or belief was a substantial or motivating factor in the defendant's decision to discharge or fail to promote them. 5. The defendant can rebut the plaintiff's claim by proving that they would have taken the same employment action even without considering the plaintiff's political activity or belief. It is important to note that there might be variations or additional instructions related to this jury instruction depending on the specific circumstances and elements of each case. The precise wording and details of the instruction may also vary over time as legal interpretations evolve. Overall, the Kentucky Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee is crucial in protecting public employees' rights to engage in political activities without facing adverse employment actions, particularly those who hold key positions within government agencies or departments.