Overview

• The Supreme Court ruled that the Fifth Circuit applied an overly narrow interpretation of precedent in dismissing Gonzalez's case.
• Gonzalez was arrested in 2019 for allegedly tampering with government records after she inadvertently placed a petition in her binder.
• Her lawsuit claims the arrest was retaliation by city officials for her outspoken criticism of the city manager.
• The charges against Gonzalez were dropped, but she pursued a federal civil rights claim for First Amendment violations.
• The ruling allows Gonzalez to proceed with her case, potentially setting a precedent for similar retaliatory arrest claims.