borough duryea pennsylvania et al guarnieri argued march decided june petitioner borough fired respondent guarnieri police chief filed union grievance led reinstatement borough council later issued directives instructing guarnieri perform duties filed second grievance arbitrator ordered directives modified withdrawn guarnieri filed suit alleging directives issued retaliation filing first grievance thereby violating first amendment right petition government redress grievances later amended complaint allege council also violated petition clause denying request overtime pay retaliation filed suit district instructed jury inter alia suit grievances constitutionally protected activity jury found guarnieri affirming compensatory damages award third circuit held public employee petitioned government formal mechanism filing lawsuit grievance protected petition clause retaliation activity even petition concerns matter solely private concern ruling rejected view every circuit considered issue protected petition must address matter public concern held government employer allegedly retaliatory actions employee give rise liability petition clause unless employee petition relates matter public concern third circuit conclusion public concern test limit public employees petition clause claims incorrect pp public employee suing employer first amendment speech clause must show spoke citizen matter public concern connick myers even employee makes showing however courts balance employee right engage speech government interest promoting efficiency effectiveness public services performs employees pickering board ed township high school dist although cases might arise special petition clause concerns require distinct analysis public employees retaliation claims call divergence close connection rights speech petition led courts appeals third circuit apply public concern test public employees petition clause claims approach justified substantial common ground definition delineation rights pp substantial government interests justify cautious restrained approach protecting public employees speech relevant petition clause cases petition less speech interfere government efficient effective operation seeking results contravene governmental policies impair proper performance governmental functions garcetti ceballos petition taking form lawsuit government employer may particularly disruptive consuming public officials time attention burdening exercise legitimate authority blurring lines accountability public example guarnieri attorney invited jury review myriad details government decisionmaking precisely avoid sort intrusion internal governmental affairs held first amendment invests public employees certain rights empower employee grievance interpreting petition clause apply even matters public concern involved unnecessary even disruptive already protection public employees rights file grievances litigate adopting different rule petition clause claims provide ready means public employees circumvent public concern test protections aggravate potential harm government interests compounding costs complying constitution pp guarnieri claim applying public concern test petition clause inappropriate light private nature many petitions redress lacks merit although clause undoubtedly force application context personal grievance addressed government petitions government assume added dimension seek advance political social ideas interest community whole clause history reveals frequent use petitions address wide range political social matters great public import interest pp framework used govern public employees speech clause claims applied petition clause protect government interests employee first amendment right public employee petitions employee matter purely private concern first amendment interest must give way speech cases san diego roe petitions citizen matter public concern first amendment interest must balanced government countervailing interest effective efficient management internal affairs pickering supra balance favors public employee first amendment claim sustained balance favors employer employee first amendment claim fail even though petition matter public concern speech clause whether petition relates matter public concern depend content form context revealed whole record connick supra forum petition lodged also relevant see snyder phelps petition filed government employer using internal grievance procedure many cases seek communicate public advance political social point view beyond employment context pp absent full briefs parties need consider foregoing framework apply case fed appx vacated remanded kennedy delivered opinion roberts ginsburg breyer alito sotomayor kagan joined thomas filed opinion concurring judgment scalia filed opinion concurring judgment part dissenting part borough duryea pennsylvania et petitioners charles guarnieri writ certiorari appeals third circuit june justice kennedy delivered opinion among rights essential freedom first amendment protects right people petition government redress grievances amdt case concerns extent protection petition clause grants public employees routine disputes government employers petitions form expression employees invoke petition clause cases invoke well speech clause first amendment show employer interfered rights speech clause employee general rule must show speech matter public concern term defined precedents courts issue whether test applies employee invokes petition clause alone among courts appeals addressed issue appeals third circuit held public concern test limit petition clause claims public employees reasons stated conclusion incorrect charles guarnieri filed union grievance challenging termination chief police borough duryea town persons northeastern pennsylvania grievance proceeded arbitration pursuant police union agreement arbitrator found borough council duryea legislative body entity responsible guarnieri termination committed procedural errors connection termination arbitrator also found guarnieri engaged misconduct including attempting intimidate council members app arbitrator ordered guarnieri reinstated disciplinary suspension upon guarnieri return job council issued directives instructing guarnieri performance duties council attorney explained council wanted sure chief understood going expected upon return tr apr one directive prohibited guarnieri working overtime without council express permission app another indicated police car used official business third stated duryea municipal building smoke free building police department exempt guarnieri testified directives coming back warm welcome feeling tr apr guarnieri filed second union grievance challenging directives arbitrator instructed council modify withdraw directives grounds vague interfered authority mayor contrary agreement guarnieri filed lawsuit borough borough council individual members council guarnieri claimed first union grievance petition protected petition clause first amendment alleged directives issued upon reinstatement retaliation protected activity suit filed council denied request guarnieri overtime department labor investigated concluded guarnieri entitled paid council offered guarnieri check amount guarnieri refused accept instead guarnieri amended complaint encompass denial overtime guarnieri alleged lawsuit petition denial overtime constituted retaliation filed lawsuit law circuit defendants obtain judgment matter law basis lawsuit grievances matter public concern case proceeded jury guarnieri attorney argued council sending message guarnieri directives denial overtime might arbitration control tr apr district instructed jury lawsuit union grievances protected activity constitution jury find defendants liable found adequate connection protected activity alleged retaliation jury found favor guarnieri jury awarded compensatory damages punitive damages directives well compensatory damages punitive damages denial overtime district awarded attorney fees denied defendants renewed motion judgment matter law defendants appealed ground guarnieri grievances lawsuit address matters public concern courts outside third circuit held allegedly retaliatory actions government employers government employees may give rise liability petition clause unless employee petition related matter public concern see kirby elizabeth city tang rhode island dept elderly affairs white plains towing patterson courts rely substantial overlap rights speech petition justify application speech clause petition clause claims reason whether grievance considered speech clause petition clause government employer entitled take adverse action employee unless dispute involves matter public concern rejecting view appeals affirmed award compensatory damages although found insufficient evidence sustain award punitive damages appeals concluded public employee petitioned government formal mechanism filing lawsuit grievance protected petition clause retaliation activity even petition concerns matter solely private concern fed appx quoting foraker chaffinch decision appeals consistent rule adopted explained san filippo bongiovanni granted certiorari resolve conflict courts appeals ii public employee sues government employer first amendment speech clause employee must show spoke citizen matter public concern connick myers employee speak citizen address matter public concern federal appropriate forum review wisdom personnel decision taken public agency allegedly reaction employee behavior ibid even employee speak citizen matter public concern employee speech automatically privileged courts balance first amendment interest employee interest state employer promoting efficiency public services performs employees pickering board ed township high school dist framework reconcile employee right engage speech government employer right protect legitimate interests performing mission san diego roe per curiam rights freedoms fundamental liberty bargained away contract public employment responsibility ensure citizens deprived fundamental rights virtue working government connick supra see also keyishian board regents univ state nevertheless citizen accepts public employment must accept certain limitations freedom garcetti ceballos government substantial interest ensuring operations efficient effective interest may require broad authority supervise conduct public employees someone paid salary contribute agency effective operation begins say things detract agency effective operation government employer must power restrain waters churchill plurality opinion restraints justified consensual nature employment relationship unique nature government interest case arises petition clause speech clause parties litigated case premise guarnieri grievances lawsuit petitions protected petition clause precedents confirm petition clause protects right appeal courts forums established government resolution legal disputes right access courts redress wrongs aspect first amendment right petition government nlrb see also constr nlrb bill johnson restaurants nlrb california motor transport trucking unlimited although retaliation government employer public employee exercise right access courts may implicate protections petition clause case provides necessity consider correct application petition clause beyond context although case proceeds petition clause guarnieri easily alleged employer retaliated speech contained within grievances lawsuit claim subject public concern test already described guarnieri chose proceed petition clause however appeals applied generous rule following decision appeals san filippo supra guarnieri deemed entitled protection retaliation long petition sham rule defendants public employers might liable petition clause even conduct give rise liability speech clause question presented case whether history purpose petition clause justify imposition broader liability employee invokes protection instead protection afforded speech clause necessary say two clauses identical mandate purpose effect acknowledge rights speech petition share substantial common ground said right speak right petition cognate rights thomas collins see also wayte accident coincidence rights freedom speech press coupled single guaranty rights people peaceably assemble petition redress grievances thomas speech petition integral democratic process although necessarily way right petition allows citizens express ideas hopes concerns government elected representatives whereas right speak fosters public exchange ideas integral deliberative democracy well whole realm ideas human affairs beyond political sphere speech petition advance personal expression although right petition generally concerned expression directed government seeking redress grievance courts presume always essential equivalence two clauses speech clause precedents necessarily every case resolve petition clause claims see ibid rights speech petition identical interpretation petition clause must guided objectives aspirations underlie right petition conveys special concerns author government usual form action government address concerns see supra opinion mcdonald smith sometimes interpreted mean right petition extend right speak mcdonald held speech contained within petition subject standards defamation libel speech outside petition circumstances found sound basis granting greater constitutional protection statements made petition first amendment expressions may arise cases special concerns petition clause provide sound basis distinct analysis rules principles define two rights might differ emphasis formulation courts appeals recognized however claims retaliation public employees call divergence see supra close connection rights led courts appeals third circuit apply public concern test developed speech clause cases petition clause claims public employees explained approach justified extensive common ground definition delineation rights considerations shape application speech clause public employees apply equal force claims employees petition clause substantial government interests justify cautious restrained approach protection speech public employees relevant public employees proceed petition clause petitions less speech interfere efficient effective operation government petition may seek achieve results contravene governmental policies impair proper performance governmental functions garcetti government must authority appropriate circumstances restrain employees use petitions frustrate progress towards ends hired achieve petition like forms speech bring mission employer professionalism officers serious disrepute roe public employee might instance use courts pursue personal vendettas harass members general public behavior cause serious breakdown public confidence government employees speech petition directed concerned public employees serious detrimental effect morale petition takes form lawsuit government employer may particularly disruptive unlike speech sorts lawsuit demands response mounting defense even frivolous claims may consume time resources government employer outside context public employment recognized petition clause protect objectively baseless litigation seeks directly business relationships competitor professional real estate investors columbia pictures industries quoting eastern railroad presidents conference noerr motor freight recognition substantial costs imposed litigation congress also required civil rights plaintiffs whose suits frivolous unreasonable without foundation pay attorney fees incurred defendants christiansburg garment eeoc see also fed rule civ proc providing sanctions claims presented improper purpose frivolous lacking evidentiary support government likewise significant interest disciplining public employees abuse judicial process unrestrained application petition clause context government employment subject wide range government operations invasive judicial superintendence employees may file grievances variety employment matters including working conditions pay discipline promotions leave vacations terminations see brief national school boards association amicus curiae every government action response present potential federal constitutional issue judges juries asked determine whether government actions fact retaliatory required give scrutiny government response grievance government justification actions occasion review host collateral matters typically left discretion public officials budget priorities personnel decisions substantive policies might laid jury raise serious federalism concerns also consume time attention public officials burden exercise legitimate authority blur lines accountability officials public case illustrates risks costs guarnieri attorney invited jury review myriad details government decisionmaking questioned council decision issue directives writing rather orally tr apr council failure consult mayor issuing directives apr amount money spent employ philadelphia lawyers defend guarnieri legal challenges apr apr wisdom council decision spend money install global positioning system devices police cars finally attorney invited jury evaluate council decisions light emotional appeal behalf guarnieri little dog hercules little white fluffy dog half shitsu apr precisely avoid intrusion internal governmental affairs held first amendment invests public employees certain rights empower employee grievance garcetti supra quoting connick petition clause apply even matters public concern involved unnecessary even disruptive already protection rights public employees file grievances litigate government often adopt statutory regulatory mechanisms protect rights employees improper retaliation discipline preserving important government interests cf garcetti supra noting powerful network legislative enactments employees sue federal state employment laws often benefit generous quite detailed antiretaliation provisions see stat tit purdon statutory protections subject legislative revision designed unique needs state local federal governments well special circumstances particular governmental offices agencies petition clause instrument public employees circumvent legislative enactments pursuing claims based ordinary workplace grievances light government interests public employment context surprising petition clause claims public employees limited necessary protect employer functions responsibilities even beyond speech clause explained government significantly greater leeway dealings citizen employees brings sovereign power bear citizens large engquist oregon dept agriculture see also nasa nelson slip government interest managing internal affairs requires proper restraints invocation rights employees workplace government employer responsibilities may reason think petition clause exception public concern test developed protect substantial government interests adoption different rule petition clause claims provide ready means public employees circumvent test protections consider sheila myers original plaintiff connick circulated questionnaire soliciting views fellow staff members various office matters held myers claim retaliation failed public concern test questionnaire accurately characterized employee grievance concerning internal office policy undermine principle different result obtained myers raised claims using formal grievance procedure myers employer reasonably believed myers complaints disrupt office undermine authority destroy close working relationships ibid concerns less significant context formal grievance employees able evade rule articulated connick case wrapping speech mantle petition clause articulation separate test petition clause aggravate potential harm government interests compounding costs compliance constitution different rule first amendment claim require employers separate petitions speech order afford different treatment turn add complexity expense compliance constitution identifying might easy employees employ formal grievance procedures right petition limited petitions lodged formal procedures see brown louisiana indeed employee connick made colorable argument questionnaire viewed petition redress grievances guarnieri claims application public concern test petition clause inappropriate light private nature many petitions redress grievances petition clause undoubtedly force application context personal grievance addressed government see trainmen virginia ex rel virginia state bar thomas founding citizens petitioned wide range subjects including matters private public concern petitions colonial legislatures concerned topics diverse debt actions estate distributions divorce proceedings requests modification criminal sentence higginson short history right petition government redress grievances yale although claims interest individual making appeal individual need legal remedy may vital imperative see boddie connecticut outside public employment context constitutional protection petitions necessarily turn whether petitions relate matter public concern however merit suggestion public concern test apply petition clause majority petitions colonial legislatures addressed matters purely private concern analogous cases speech clause noted constitution special concern threats right citizens participate political affairs connick supra even though likely age speech concerns purely private matters proper scope application petition clause likewise determined merely tallying petitions colonial legislatures effort must made identify historic fundamental principles led enumeration right petition first amendment among rights fundamental liberty petitions government assume added dimension seek advance political social ideas interest community whole petition word concept essential safeguard freedom ancient significance english law legal tradition see blackstone commentaries right petition applied nobles king parliament king people parliament concerned discrete personal injuries great matters state right petition traces origins magna carta confirmed right barons petition king mckechnie magna carta commentary great charter king john rev ed magna carta king john answer petition barons later petition right drew upon centuries tradition magna carta model parliament issue plea even demand crown refrain certain actions car ch petition right stated four principal grievances taxation without consent parliament arbitrary imprisonment quartering billeting soldiers imposition martial law passage houses parliament petition received king assent became part law england see gardiner first two stuarts puritan revolution pp petition right occupies place english constitutional history superseded importance perhaps magna carta declaration right following years saw use mass petitions address matters public concern see hume history england invasion julius caesar revolution tumultuous petitioning admirable expedient spreading discontent uniting nation popular clamour instance persons signed petition regarding summoning dissolution one major political issues agitating nation knights london petition historical journal nine years later declaration right listed illegal acts sovereign set forth certain rights king subjects one right petition sovereign stated right subjects petition king commitments prosecutions petitioning illegal ch see also schwoerer declaration rights pp declaration independence arose tradition listing specific grievances wrongs complained every stage oppressions petitioned redress humble terms repeated petitions answered repeated injury declaration independence independence petitions matters public concern continued essential part contemporary debates country early history two years adoption constitution james madison memorial remonstrance religious assessments important document history establishment clause presented general assembly virginia petition see laycock religious liberty overviews history arizona christian school tuition organization winn slip attracted signatures laycock supra ratification debates antifederalists circulated petitions urging delegates adopt constitution absent modification bill rights boyd antifederalists acceptance constitution pennsylvania publius pp spring petitions national legislature also played central part legislative debate subject slavery years civil war see miller arguing slavery petitions allowed participation democratic governance even groups excluded franchise see mark vestigial constitution history significance right petition ford rev instance petitions women seeking vote role early woman suffrage movement see cogan ginzberg petition woman suffrage new york state constitutional convention signs right petition sense source fundamental rights petitions provided vital means citizens request recognition new rights assert existing rights sovereign petitions courts similar bodies likewise address matters great public import context civil rights movement litigation provided means distinctive contribution minority group ideas beliefs society naacp button individuals may also engag litigation vehicle effective political expression association well means communicating useful information public primus litigation matters public concern may facilitate informed public participation cornerstone democratic society also allows individuals pursue desired ends direct appeal government officials charged applying law government may misuse role employer unduly distort deliberative process see garcetti public employees members community likely informed definite opinions wide range matters related directly indirectly employment pickering public right hear views public employees public right benefit employees participation petitioning activity petitions may allow public airing disputed facts promote evolution law supporting development legal theories nlrb internal quotation marks omitted benefits may accrue one class knowledgeable motivated citizens prevented engaging petitioning activity public employee seeks participate citizen process deliberative democracy either speech petition necessary regard employee member general public seeks pickering supra framework used govern speech clause claims public employees applied petition clause protect interests government first amendment right public employee petitions employee matter purely private concern employee first amendment interest must give way speech cases roe public employee petitions citizen matter public concern employee first amendment interest must balanced countervailing interest government effective efficient management internal affairs pickering supra balance favors public employee employee first amendment claim sustained interference government operations balance favors employer employee first amendment claim fail even though petition matter public concern speech clause whether employee petition relates matter public concern depend content form context petition revealed whole record connick forum petition lodged relevant determination whether petition relates matter public concern see snyder phelps slip petition filed employer using internal grievance procedure many cases seek communicate public advance political social point view beyond employment context course one sense public may always interested government officers performing duties connick pickering test evolved always suffice show matter public concern petition involves nothing complaint change employee duties relate matter public concern accordingly may give rise discipline without imposing special burden justification government employer treasury employees right public employee petition clause right participate citizen petitioning activity democratic process right transform everyday employment disputes matters constitutional litigation federal courts iii third circuit find necessary apply framework determination apply context case parties address issue opening brief response address issue brief amicus curiae reply brief petitioners suggest address issue resolve favor yet opening brief petitioners sought vacatur remand need consider issue without benefit full briefs parties judgment appeals vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered borough duryea pennsylvania et petitioners charles guarnieri writ certiorari appeals third circuit june justice thomas concurring judgment reasons set forth justice scalia seriously doubt lawsuits petitions within original meaning petition clause first amendment see post opinion concurring judgment part dissenting part unreasoned statements contrary prior decisions convince otherwise like however need decide question today parties litigated case premise guarnieri grievances lawsuit petitions protected petition clause ante also largely agree justice scalia framework assessing public employees retaliation claims petition clause public concern doctrine connick myers rooted first amendment core protection speech matters public concern relation right petition see post import test petition clause rather like justice scalia hold petition clause protects public employees retaliation filing petitions unless petitions addressed government capacity petitioners employer rather sovereign post end analysis determining petition addressed government sovereign recognizing realities employment context held government significantly greater dealings citizen employees brings sovereign power bear citizens large engquist oregon dept agriculture even public employee petitions government capacity sovereign balance employee right petition sovereign government interest employer effective efficient management internal affairs cf garcetti ceballos noting employees speaking citizens matters concern still must face speech restrictions necessary employers operate efficiently effectively treasury employees rehnquist dissenting conducting balance speech clause context consistently given substantial weight government employers reasonable predictions disruption even speech involved matter public concern ortega plurality opinion balancing realities workplace legitimate privacy interests public employees conclude warrant requirement seriously disrupt routine conduct business unduly burdensome assessing retaliation claim petition clause courts able conclude instances petition especially disruptive lawsuits might balance interests may weigh favor government employer applying framework vacate judgment remand appeals erred respect guarnieri union grievance suit first even assuming grievance petition addressed local government capacity guarnieri employer see post opinion scalia second guarnieri addressed suit federal government capacity sovereign local government employer see ibid appeals consider whether local government interest employer achieving goals effectively efficiently possible nevertheless outweighs guarnieri interest petitioning federal government regarding local employment engquist supra internal quotation marks omitted vacate remand appeals conduct analysis first instance borough duryea pennsylvania et petitioners charles guarnieri writ certiorari appeals third circuit june justice scalia concurring judgment part dissenting part disagree two aspects reasoning first incorrect state precedents confirm petition clause protects right individuals appeal courts forums established government resolution legal disputes ante first opinion clearly saying lawsuits petitions petition clause came less years ago california motor transport trucking unlimited opinion justice douglas asserted right access courts indeed one aspect right petition authority cited two habeas corpus cases johnson avery ex parte hull neither even mentioned petition clause assertion moreover pure dictum holding california motor transport doctrine judicial gloss sherman act held immunize certain lobbying activity apply sham litigation sought bar competitors meaningful access adjudicatory tribunals three cases cited holding lawsuits petitions ante statutory interpretation decisions construing national labor relations act albeit backdrop petition clause see constr nlrb nlrb bill johnson restaurants nlrb never actually held lawsuit constitutionally protected petition today opinion hold merely observes parties litigated case premise guarnieri grievances lawsuit petitions protected petition clause ante concludes guarnieri claim fail even premise correct find proposition lawsuit constitutionally protected petition quite doubtful first amendment petition clause congress shall make law abridging right people petition government redress grievances reference right people indicates petition clause intended codify individual right means must look historical practice determine scope see district columbia heller abundant historical evidence petitions directed executive legislative branches government courts stamp act congress stated hat right british subjects colonies petition king either house parliament declaration rights grievances art reprinted schwartz bill rights documentary history made mention petitions directed courts seven state constitutions protected citizens right apply petition redress grievances seven referred legislative petitions see andrews right access petition clause first amendment right ohio judiciary act grant federal trial courts jurisdiction hear lawsuits arising federal law indication anyone ever thought restriction infringed right citizens petition federal government redress grievances fact never affirmed first amendment right litigate unsupported dictum heard almost years worth lawsuits untold numbers might affected first amendment right litigate give rise strong suspicion right exists universal tradition prohibiting certain conduct creates strong presumption prohibition constitutional principles liberty fundamental enough embodied within constitutional guarantees readily erased nation consciousness nevada ethics carrigan ante internal quotation marks omitted acknowledge however scholars made detailed historical arguments contrary see andrews supra pfander sovereign immunity right petition toward first amendment right pursue judicial claims government nw rev opinion observes parties litigated issue agree leave resolution another day second greater practical consequence disagree decision apply public concern framework connick myers retaliation claims brought petition clause correctly holds speech clause petition clause ante acknowledges moreover petition clause protects personal grievances addressed government ante understatement rather like acknowledging speech clause protects verbal expression primary responsibility colonial assemblies settlement private disputes raised petitions higginson short history right petition government redress grievances yale overwhelming majority first congress petitions presented private claims documentary history first federal congress xviii bowling digiacomantonio bickford eds nonetheless holds least public employment cases petition clause speech clause treated identically since speech clause prohibit retaliation public employees speaking matters private concern neither petition clause gives two reasons first different rule first amendment claim add complexity expense compliance constitution provide ready means public employees circumvent test protections second etitions government assume added dimension seek advance political social ideas interest community whole ante neither reason persuasive former complexity treating petition clause speech clause separately attributable inconsiderate disregard judicial convenience displayed ratified first amendment included provisions separate constitutional rights plaintiff engage pernicious circumvention speech clause precedents brings claim premised separate enumerated right precedents inapplicable latter perhaps petitions matters public concern sense involve added dimension added dimension obliterate traditionally principal dimension petition clause limitation makes sense context speech clause speech matters public concern lies within core first amendment protection engquist oregon dept speech clause fullest urgent application speech uttered campaign political office citizens federal election slip internal quotation marks omitted unique protection granted political speech grounded history speech clause fashioned assure unfettered interchange ideas bringing political social changes desired people connick supra internal quotation marks omitted mere fact longstanding tradition granting heightened protection speech public concern suggest public concern requirement written constitutional provisions say religious proselytizing entitled protection free exercise clause private religious worship public proclamations core free exercise activity say due process right neutral adjudicator heightened context litigation national importance litigation somehow core due process guarantee likewise given petitions redress private grievances high proportion petitions founding proportion infinitely higher lawsuits considered petitions ahistorical say petitions matters public concern constitute core petitioning activity view submitted letter one borough duryea council members protesting tax assessment claimed mistaken borough fired retaliation petition guarnieri claim petition clause violation wrong takes account thus frustrates principal purpose petition clause responds proper scope application petition clause determined merely tallying petitions colonial legislatures ante misses point text petition clause distinguish petitions public concern petitions private concern accordingly doctrinal distinction unless history tradition petition clause justifies mere fact enumerate several historical petitions public importance ante establish tradition given redress private grievances vastly outnumbered indeed holding contrary historical treatment petition clause assuming believes clause embraces litigation decided innumerable cases establishing constitutional rights respect litigation today one much hinted litigation public concern enjoys rights litigation private concern belief social importance public petitions reminiscences greats yesteryear justify proclamation special constitutional rights public petitions constitution establishes constitutional rights justices notions important top numbers petition hit parade basis believing petition clause gives special protection public petitions rather shoehorning public concern doctrine clause fit hold petition clause protects public employees filing petitions unless petitions government capacity petitioners employer rather capacity sovereign long held government significantly greater leeway dealings citizen employees brings sovereign power bear citizens large ante quoting engquist supra internal quotation marks omitted apply petition clause context said regarding speech clause employee files petition government capacity employer acting citize first amendment purposes relevant analogue petitions citizens government employees garcetti ceballos sure line petition addressed government petitioner employer one addressed sovereign always clear fuzzy line matters private matters public criterion suggest largely resolve legitimate practical concerns identified ante recognizing giving effect difference speech petition clauses think proper test third circuit judgment us reversed part affirmed part portion upholding guarnieri claim retaliation filed union grievance must reversed union grievance epitome petition addressed government capacity petitioner employer analogous petitions government filed private citizens even permitted avail guarnieri union grievance procedure contrariwise portion judgment upholding guarnieri claim retaliation filed claim must affirmed given guarnieri employee federal government impossible say claim addressed government capacity employer think clear retaliating state employee writing letter congressman state job run afoul petition clause assuming lawsuit treated like letter congressman petition clause purposes proposition emphasize doubtful parties dispute case retaliation filed lawsuit also violates clause footnotes respondent agree since cited case argument earliest tr oral arg however three cases adverted vaguely lawsuits involving right petition see mine workers illinois bar trainmen virginia ex rel virginia state bar naacp button compare alpha energy savers hansen testimony concerning claim employment discrimination government contractor constituted matter public concern itigation seeking expose wrongful governmental activity nature matter public concern padilla south harrison school teacher testimony approving sexual relationship teacher minor matter private concern relate teacher legitimate disagreement school board policies compare voigt savell speech regarding judge handled two internal personnel matters matter public concern public interest knowing whether treats job applicants fairly maggio sipple testimony hearing concerning employee grievance matter private concern allege fraud corruption defendant implementation personnel policies appeal procedures