CASE WESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW — Her client, Michael Wood, wore a shirt bearing the words “F*ck the Police” to the county fair. According to Wood, the defendant police officers ordered him to leave and escorted him from the fairgrounds because of his shirt. Wood, who levied numerous profanities at the police and the fairground’s administrator, was arrested for disorderly conduct but the charges were dismissed. Wood filed suit against the officers for false arrest and retaliation. His lawsuit alleged that the defendants falsely arrested him in retaliation for his protected speech. Based on Coulter’s argument, the Court of Appeals reversed a lower federal court’s ruling that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity against these claims. Coulter argued the case in the Sixth Circuit on behalf of Wood in November 2021. Co-counsel Lynette Dinkler authored the brief. David Carey, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Ohio, also argued in support of Wood on behalf of the ACLU of Ohio as amicus curiae. “The First Amendment protects speech critical of the government, including law enforcement, even when laced with profanity,” Coulter said. “I’m glad the Sixth Circuit reinstated Mr. Wood’s claims and vindicated the right to be free from false arrest and retaliation based on protected speech. “This is an important decision that reaffirms important First Amendment principles, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to argue this case.”