In addressing the correlation the lower court made in relation to Pickering, the Supreme Court first had to decide if Ceballos made the speech as a private citizen on a matter of public concern. Ceballos’ memorandum was written pursuant to his duties as a prosecutor, therefore the expectation of the memorandum to be protected under the First Amendment. The Supreme Court also stated that official communications have official consequences. The consequences of Ceballos’ statements were a heated confrontation between interested parties and his jeopardizing a critical part of the prosecutions
In addressing the correlation the lower court made in relation to Pickering, the Supreme Court first had to decide if Ceballos made the speech as a private citizen on a matter of public concern. Ceballos’ memorandum was written pursuant to his duties as a prosecutor, therefore the expectation of the memorandum to be protected under the First Amendment. The Supreme Court also stated that official communications have official consequences. The consequences of Ceballos’ statements were a heated confrontation between interested parties and his jeopardizing a critical part of the prosecutions