Chicago Illinois Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee: This jury instruction addresses a specific legal scenario involving public employees in Chicago, Illinois, who allege that their discharge or failure to be promoted was a violation of their First Amendment rights due to political disloyalty. The instruction helps guide the jury through the necessary legal considerations in such a case. Here is a detailed description of this jury instruction with relevant keywords: 1. Overview: The Chicago Illinois Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee pertains to cases where a public employee who held a key position was denied a promotion or discharged allegedly due to their political opinions or affiliations. The instruction assists the jury in evaluating whether the public employer's actions violated the plaintiff's First Amendment rights. 2. First Amendment Claim: The instruction explains that public employees, even if not holding policymaking positions, have some protection under the First Amendment against adverse employment actions based on political disloyalty. It clarifies the legal standards applied to determine if the plaintiff's claim is valid. 3. Failure To Promote: This portion of the instruction addresses cases where a public employee asserts that their employer unlawfully failed to promote them due to their political beliefs. It covers the burden of proof, the establishment of key elements, and the jury's responsibility to assess the evidence presented. 4. Political Disloyalty: The jury instruction emphasizes that, for an adverse employment action to be based on unlawful political disloyalty, the plaintiff's political beliefs or affiliations must be a motivating factor behind the employer's decision. It guides the jury to carefully evaluate the evidence regarding the employer's intent and the plaintiff's political activities. 5. Key Employee: Some variations of this jury instruction may include the "Key Employee" component. In such cases, the instruction focuses on individuals who hold influential positions where political loyalty is critical to the effective functioning of their role. It highlights the potential considerations and justifications applicable to key employees' failure to promote claims based on political disloyalty. 6. Jury Deliberations: The instruction advises the jury on how to collectively evaluate the evidence, make factual findings, and apply the law to determine if the plaintiff's First Amendment rights were violated. It emphasizes that the jury must weigh the evidence objectively and without prejudice. 7. Legal Consequences and Damages: Once the jury has reached a decision, the instruction may provide guidance on determining the legal consequences and any potential damages that may be awarded to the plaintiff if their First Amendment rights were found to be violated. In summary, the Chicago Illinois Jury Instruction — 1.1.2 Public Employee First Amendment Claim Discharge — Failure To Promote Political Disloyalty — Key Employee is a comprehensive guideline that assists the jury in evaluating the legal merits of a public employee's claim of political disloyalty leading to adverse employment actions, specifically in cases involving failure to promote key employees.