Mississippi Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee provides guidance to the jury in cases related to public employees who claim that they were discharged or not promoted due to their political disloyalty as protected by the First Amendment. This instruction helps ensure a fair trial and proper consideration of the key factors involved in such cases. Key points covered in Mississippi Jury Instruction — 1.1.2: 1. Public employee first amendment claim: The instruction focuses on cases involving public employees who assert that their discharge or failure to be promoted was motivated by their political disloyalty. It recognizes the employees' right to freely express their political opinions while working for the government. 2. Failure to promote: The instruction addresses situations where the public employee contends that they were denied a promotion due to their political disloyalty. It emphasizes that political beliefs should not hinder an employee's opportunity for career advancement within the public sector. 3. Political disloyalty: This instruction stresses the significance of demonstrating that the employee's political beliefs or activities were a substantial or determining factor in the adverse employment decision. It guides the jury on determining whether political disloyalty was genuinely involved in the employee's situation or if there were other valid reasons for the discharge or failure to promote. 4. Key employee status: In some cases, the instruction acknowledges the relevance of the employee's role and responsibilities within their position. It clarifies that individuals holding key positions, which significantly impact decision-making or policy implementation, may face different considerations compared to employees in less influential roles. 5. Burden of proof: The instruction also outlines the burden of proof on the employee, requiring them to establish that their political disloyalty was a substantial or motivating factor leading to their adverse employment outcome. This helps the jury evaluate whether there is sufficient evidence to support the employee's claim. Different types of Mississippi Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee may vary based on specific circumstances and legal precedents. However, the core principles of protecting public employees' First Amendment rights and ensuring fair assessments of political disloyalty claims generally apply across cases within this domain.