Earlier this year, the Second Circuit came out with an important, wide-ranging decision that clarified the protections that public employees have under the First Amendment. Specifically, any speech that is "pursuant to" an employee’s duties is not protected.

In a summary order last week arising out of Connecticut, the Second Circuit reinforced that fact. In

In a case with wide-ranging implications for First Amendment cases in Connecticut (and New York), the Second Circuit today held that a school teacher’s union grievances were not protected speech.

The case, Weintraub v. Board of Education of New York (download here) covers a lot of ground, but it chimes in on an issue the