Legal Brief: Bland v. Roberts (4th Cir.2013)Olivia JohnsonJOUR/SPCH 3060April 1, 2014Bland v. Roberts, No. 12-1671, order and opinion (4th Cir., September 18, 2013), available at: http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/121671.P.pdf (last consulted September 4 April 2014). Nature of Case: Pursuit of First Amendment appeal in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in Newport News, seeking compensation for lost wages or reinstatement from former positions. Facts: Sheriff BJ Roberts ran for office against his opponent, Jim Adams, in 2009. When Sheriff Roberts was re-elected in November 2009, he reappointed the majority of his staff with a few exceptions. Deputy Sheriffs Robert W. McCoy, Daniel Ray Carter, Jr., David W. Dixon, John C. Sandhofer, Debra H. Woodward and Bobby Bland were among those not reappointed. The deputies alleged they were fired because of their support of Sheriff Roberts' opposition. Part of that support included Carter “liking” the Adams campaign Facebook page. In response to this, Sheriff Roberts goes to war...