Texas Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee This Texas Jury Instruction, 1.1.2, pertains to a public employee's First Amendment claim of discharge due to an alleged failure to promote political disloyalty. It specifically addresses cases where a key employee within a public entity claims to have been wrongfully discharged or not promoted based on their political beliefs or affiliations. In such cases, the jury instruction aims to guide the jury in understanding the legal standards and considerations that should be applied when determining if the public employee's First Amendment rights were violated, leading to their discharge or denial of promotion by the employer. Key components of this jury instruction include: 1. First Amendment Protection: The instruction elucidates the foundational principle that public employees have constitutional protection under the First Amendment, allowing them to freely express their political beliefs and engage in political activities, subject to certain limitations. 2. Political Disloyalty: It further explains that political disloyalty refers to instances where the employee's political beliefs or associations are used against them by the employer to decide their job status, promotion, or discharge. 3. Key Employee: This instruction specifically relates to cases where the claimant is considered a key employee within the public entity. A key employee is one who holds a position of significant responsibility, has substantial influence, or possesses specialized or confidential knowledge crucial for the proper functioning of the public entity. 4. Standard of Proof: The jury instruction outlines the burden of proof on the plaintiff, emphasizing that the claimant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that their discharge or failure to be promoted was primarily motivated by their political disloyalty. The exact wording and elements of this jury instruction may differ slightly depending on the specific case and its circumstances. It is essential for parties involved in such cases to consult the relevant instruction provided by the court to ensure the accuracy and applicability of the instructions for their particular claim. Other types of Texas Jury Instructions related to public employee First Amendment claims and political disloyalty may exist, addressing different aspects or variations of the issue. However, their specific numbering or categorization might differ based on the jurisdiction and the availability of alternative instructions provided by the court.