Phoenix, Arizona, Civil Rights Lawyers

Section 1983 (42 U.S.C. § 1983) provides a federal claim against any person who, acting under “color of law,” deprives another person of any constitutional or federal statutory rights. Because the individual must act under “color of law,” Section 1983 applies to public employers, including state universities, public agencies or departments, city and county governments, or other municipal agencies.

At Martin & Bonnett PLLC, our Phoenix civil rights attorneys handle a variety of civil rights claims, including:

• First Amendment retaliation claims
• Fourteenth Amendment Due Process claims
• Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection claims

The First Amendment protects an employee’s freedoms of speech, association, and religion. A public employer may not discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of their religious beliefs or public opinions.

Some employees may also have a right to procedural due process. Some public employers may be required to follow certain pre-termination or post-termination procedures, including providing:

• Appropriate notice of charges
• An opportunity to respond to the charges and
• A chance to present evidence and witnesses at a hearing

A public employer may not deny or short-circuit an employee’s right to these procedural safeguards.

The Equal Protection Clause may also protect certain groups from discrimination in the workplace. For example, a public employer may not treat an employee differently based upon their race, gender, national origin, religion or sexual preference.

Contact an Arizona Civil Rights Attorney

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced civil rights attorney, please call (602)240-6900 or toll free 1-800-952-4750. You can also contact us online.