Fired Missouri education department lawyer sues over retaliation from Charlie Kirk post

July 17, 2026 - 22:24

A former attorney for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has filed a lawsuit alleging she was wrongfully fired after sharing a private Instagram story related to conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The lawsuit claims the termination was an act of retaliation that violated her First Amendment rights to free speech.

The attorney, whose name has not been widely released in court documents, posted the story on her personal, private Instagram account. The post reportedly referenced Kirk's death, though details of the specific content remain part of the legal filing. She argues that the post was made outside of work hours, on her own time, and was not visible to the public or her colleagues. Despite this, she alleges that department officials learned of the post and moved to terminate her employment shortly after.

The suit contends that the state education department punished her for expressing a personal opinion on a matter of public concern, which is protected under the First Amendment. Legal experts note that public employees often have limited free speech protections when speaking as private citizens on issues of public interest, but the boundaries of those protections are frequently tested in court. The attorney is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and damages for the alleged violation of her constitutional rights. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has not yet issued a public response to the lawsuit.