Cook County Public Defender Sues Over Right to Display Pro-Israel Photo

Debra Gassman, a Cook County assistant public defender, has filed a lawsuit against her office for allegedly violating her First Amendment rights by censoring a photo of her with a weapon in front of the Israeli flag.

Debra Gassman, who has worked for the Cook County Public Defender’s Office since 1997, alleges her constitutional rights were violated when she was ordered to move a photo of herself with a weapon in front of the Israeli flag.
The photo, displayed in Gassman's office for over 20 years, was moved to a common area to raise awareness following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, leading to a clash with office management.
Gassman was reprimanded and the photo was confiscated during an unannounced search of her office, with claims it could provoke violence and was likened to displaying a Nazi swastika.
The lawsuit seeks to allow Gassman to display the photo without fear of censorship, discipline, or termination, arguing it is a matter of First Amendment rights.
A hearing date for the lawsuit has been set for April 17, with Gassman demanding a jury trial and seeking a court order to prominently display the photo in her office.