hartman et al moore argued january decided april seeking convince postal service incorporate multiline optical scanning technology company rei manufactured multiline optical readers commenced extensive lobbying campaign end postal service begrudgingly embraced multiline technology awarded lucrative equipment contract competing firm subsequently postal service inspectors investigated rei chief executive respondent moore alleged involvement kickback scandal alleged improper role search new postmaster general urged least part inspectors bring criminal charges federal prosecutor tried rei top officials finding complete lack evidence connecting wrongdoing district acquitted defendants moore filed action bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents federal prosecutor petitioner postal inspectors arguing relevant engineered prosecution retaliation lobbying efforts claims prosecutor dismissed accordance absolute immunity prosecutorial judgment ultimately entire suit dismissed appeals reinstated claim inspectors back district inspectors moved summary judgment claiming underlying criminal charges supported probable cause entitled qualified immunity district denied motion appeals affirmed held plaintiff action must plead show absence probable cause pressing underlying criminal charges pp general matter held first amendment prohibits government officials subjecting individual retaliatory actions including criminal prosecutions speaking britton nonretaliatory grounds insufficient provoke adverse consequences retaliation subject recovery cause official injurious action offending constitution see vengeful federal officer subject damages bivens pp although bivens plaintiff must show causal connection defendant retaliatory animus subsequent injury retaliation action need demonstrate causation context presents additional difficulty overcome showing absence probable cause ordinary retaliation case evidence motive injury sufficient circumstantial demonstration one caused causation understood causation without adverse action taken claimed retaliation however criminal charge action differ two ways first evidence showing whether probable cause criminal charge highly valuable circumstantial evidence prove disprove retaliatory causation demonstrating lack probable cause tend reinforce retaliation evidence show retaliation basis instigating prosecution establishing existence probable cause suggest prosecution occurred even without retaliatory motive second since defendant case prosecutor immunity official allegedly influenced prosecutorial decision causal connection required retaliatory animus one person person injurious action ordinary retaliation case retaliatory animus one person adverse action another evidence inspector animus necessarily show inspector induced prosecutor act pressed charges otherwise longstanding presumption regularity accorded prosecutorial decisionmaking showing absence probable cause needed bridge gap nonprosecuting government agent retaliatory motive prosecutor injurious action rebut presumption pp significance probable cause lack looms large potential feature every case obvious evidentiary value though necessarily dispositive absence probable cause along retaliatory motive part official urging prosecution reasonable grounds suspend presumption regularity behind charging decision enough prima facie inference unconstitutionally motivated inducement infected prosecutor decision go forward pp reversed remanded souter delivered opinion stevens scalia kennedy thomas joined ginsburg filed dissenting opinion breyer joined roberts alito took part consideration decision case michael hartman frank kormann pierce mcintosh norman robbins robert edwards petitioners william moore writ certiorari appeals district columbia circuit april justice souter delivered opinion bivens action criminal investigators inducing prosecution retaliation speech question whether complaint actionable violation first amendment without alleging absence probable cause support underlying criminal charge hold want probable cause must alleged proven respondent william moore chief executive recognition equipment rei manufactured multiline optical character reader interpreting multiple lines text although rei received million postal service develop technology reading sorting mail postmaster general top officials postal service urging mailers use zip codes zip provide enough routing information one line text allow scanning machines sort mail automatically reading line besides moore obviously stood gain financially adoption multiline technology members congress government research officers reservations postal service zip policy intended reliance readers critics maligned scanning technology objected foreign sources scanners decried burden remembering four extra echoed conclusion reached office technology assessment use scanners preference multiliners cost postal service million day operational losses moore built opposition zip lobbying members congress testifying congressional committees supporting buy american rider postal service appropriations bill notwithstanding alleged requests postmaster general quiet rei followed agenda hiring firm gnau associates gai one postal service governors peter voss recommended campaign succeeded july postal service made called correction embraced multiline technology brief respondent change heart extend moore rei service ensuing order multiline equipment valued somewhere million million went competing firm rei lose contract moore rei soon entangled two investigations postal service inspectors first looked purported payment kickbacks gai governor voss voss recommendations gai services case rei second sought document rei possibly improper role search new postmaster general notwithstanding limited evidence linking moore rei wrongdoing assistant attorney decided bring criminal charges grand jury indicted moore rei rei vice president close government case six weeks trial however district concluded complete lack direct evidence connecting defendants criminal wrongdoing alleged granted rei defendants motion judgment acquittal recognition equip supp dc moore brought action northern district texas civil liability bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents prosecutor five postal inspectors petitioners sixth died complaint raised five causes action one relevant claim prosecutor inspectors engineered criminal prosecution retaliation criticism postal service thus violating first amendment course proceedings moore argued among things postal inspectors launched criminal investigation well inkling either two schemes mentioned inspectors targeted lobbying activities pressured attorney office indicted moore also sought recovery federal tort claims act ftca district dismissed claims assistant attorney accordance absolute immunity prosecutorial judgment rejected claim inspectors moore valder civil action nd claims remaining transferred district district columbia moore suit dismissed entirety civ nos nhj nhj wl appeals district columbia circuit reinstate claim moore valder district permitted limited discovery matter far inspectors involved dismissed remaining charges prosecutor moore valder civil action nhj et record tab memorandum opinion although moore succeeded district columbia circuit reinstate ftca claim dismissal claims prosecutor affirmed moore remainder case back district inspectors moved summary judgment urging underlying criminal charges supported probable cause entitled qualified immunity suit district denied motion appeals affirmed courts appeals divided issue requiring evidence lack probable cause bivens suits circuits burden plaintiffs obligation show absence see wood kesler keenan tejeda mozzochi borden others including district columbia circuit impose requirement see poole county otero haynesworth miller cadc granted certiorari resolve circuit split reverse ii official reprisal protected speech offends constitution threatens inhibit exercise protected right britton law settled general matter first amendment prohibits government officials subjecting individual retaliatory actions including criminal prosecutions speaking see also perry sindermann noting government may punish person deprive benefit basis constitutionally protected speech official actions adverse speaker might well unexceptionable taken grounds nonretaliatory grounds fact insufficient provoke adverse consequences held retaliation subject recovery cause official action offending constitution see supra mt healthy city bd ed doyle adverse action government employee taken response employee exercise constitutionally protected first amendment freedoms vengeful officer federal subject action damages authority bivens see iii despite procedural history portending another jarndyce issue us straightforward whether plaintiff action must plead show absence probable cause pressing underlying criminal inspectors argue two fronts absence probable cause essential element without requirement first say bivens claim readily available plaintiff afflict public officer disruption expense alleging nothing practical terms action retaliatory animus subjective condition easy claim hard defend brief petitioners see also national archives records admin favish allegations government misconduct allege hard inspectors view objective burden must imposed plaintiffs simply filter frivolous second argument complements first inspectors believe traditional tort malicious prosecution tells us objective requirement brief petitioners action malicious prosecution acquittal plaintiff must show criminal action begun without probable cause charging crime first place inspectors see retaliatory prosecution bivens close cousin malicious prosecution common law making latter requirement natural feature constitutional tort see heck humphrey fact think fair argument inspectors call objective fact requirement type case nub argument differs two set deal briefly invitation rely parallels certainly ready look elements torts think elements actions constitutional violations see carey piphus common law best understood source inspired examples prefabricated components bivens torts see albright oliver ginsburg concurring bivens supra cf baker mccollan instance debate whether closer analog retaliatory prosecution malicious prosecution element abuse process without compare heck souter concurring judgment much leverage fear without filter screen claims federal prosecutors federal courts unduly put upon volume litigation basic concern fair enough slate blank past years fewer two dozen damages actions retaliatory prosecution bivens come squarely federal courts appeals disproportion cases circuits require showing absence probable instead need prove chain causation animus injury details specific cases provides strongest justification requirement espoused inspectors although bivens plaintiff must show causal connection defendant retaliatory animus subsequent injury sort retaliation action see mt healthy need demonstrate causation context presents additional difficulty understood comparing requisite causation ordinary retaliation claims government agent allegedly harboring animus also individual allegedly taking adverse action causation case like one take example public employee claim fired speech criticizing government see pickering board ed township high school dist allegation school board dismissed teacher writing public letter critical board financial administration employee plaintiff obviously must plead prove adverse official action retaliation making statements discussions elements constitutional tort specify necessary details proof connection retaliatory animus discharge depend circumstances cf supra least certain types claims proof improper motive sufficient establish constitutional violation must also evidence causation cases simply taken evidence motive discharge sufficient circumstantial demonstration one caused see mt healthy supra see also arlington heights metropolitan housing development clear moreover causation understood causation without adverse action taken say upon prima facie showing retaliatory harm burden shifts defendant official demonstrate even without impetus retaliate taken action complained firing employee see mt healthy finding retaliation cause discharge claim fails lack causal connection unconstitutional motive resulting harm despite proof retaliatory animus official mind see ibid may dishonorable act unconstitutional motive perhaps instances unlawful action colored degree bad motive amount constitutional tort action taken anyway see supra mt healthy supra claimed retaliation protected conduct criminal charge however constitutional tort action differ standard case two ways like plaintiff charging official retaliatory action plaintiff claim must prove elements retaliatory animus cause injury defendant opportunity respond prima facie case showing action taken anyway independently retaliatory animus different prosecution case however always distinct body highly valuable circumstantial evidence available apt prove disprove retaliatory causation namely evidence showing whether probable cause bring criminal charge demonstrating probable cause underlying criminal charge tend reinforce retaliation evidence show retaliation basis instigating prosecution establishing existence probable cause suggest prosecution occurred even without retaliatory motive alone mean course bivens plaintiff required plead prove probable cause mean litigating probable cause highly likely case owing powerful evidentiary second respect case different also goes causation bivens plaintiff must prove difference requisite causation defendant retaliatory animus plaintiff injury usually complex retaliation cases need show complex connection supports requirement probable cause alleged proven bivens action retaliatory prosecution brought prosecutor absolutely immune liability decision prosecute imbler pachtman instead defendant official like inspector may influenced prosecutorial decision make cause action strictly retaliatory prosecution successful retaliatory inducement consequence plaintiff like moore must show nonprosecuting official acted retaliation must also show induced prosecutor bring charges initiated without urging thus causal connection required merely retaliatory animus one person person injurious action retaliatory animus one person action another see order find defendant procured prosecution plaintiff must establish chain causation linking defendant actions initiation criminal proceedings see also barts joyner plaintiff seeking damages incident criminal prosecution show police allegedly acted violation law securing arrest unduly pressured deceived prosecutors dellums powell cadc allegation misconduct directed police claim stand decision made prosecutor bring criminal charges independent pressure exerted police cf smiddy varney police officers act maliciously reckless disregard rights arrested person liable damages suffered arrested person district attorney files charges unless presumption independent judgment district attorney rebutted herein lies distinct problem causation cases like one evidence inspector animus necessarily show inspector induced action prosecutor pressed charges otherwise moreover factual difficulty divining influence investigator law enforcement officer upon prosecutor mind added legal obstacle longstanding presumption regularity accorded prosecutorial decisionmaking see reno armstrong presumption prosecutor legitimate grounds action takes one lightly discard given position judicial intrusion executive discretion high order minimal see wayte sort allegation needed bridge gap nonprosecuting government agent motive prosecutor action address presumption prosecutorial regularity trial stage evidence must link allegedly retaliatory official prosecutor whose action injured plaintiff connection alleged shown absence probable cause open us course give special prominence absence probable cause bridging causal gap address distinct causation concern merely general level leaving pleading proof circumstances allow prosecutor disclosure retaliatory thinking part example great significance addressing presumption closing gap evidence prosecutor nothing rubber stamp investigative staff police cf mt healthy evidence board education formally decided rehire teacher nominally distinct school superintendent allegedly bore retaliatory animus fact though examples likely rare consequently poor guides structuring cause action cases instance unrealistic expect prosecutor reveal mind even degree record discloses reported statement prosecutor galvanized merits case sought indictment moore wanted attract interest law firm looking tough trial accordingly significance probable cause lack looms large potential feature every case obvious evidentiary value true necessarily dispositive showing absence probable cause may conclusive inducement succeeded showing presence guarantee inducement fact prosecutor decision retaliatory motive part official urging prosecution combined absence probable cause supporting prosecutor decision go forward reasonable grounds suspend presumption regularity behind charging decision see bordenkircher hayes emphasizing long prosecutor probable cause charging decision generally discretionary enough prima facie inference unconstitutionally motivated inducement infected prosecutor decision bring charge sense significance probable cause means requirement plead prove absence usually cost free incremental reckoning issue likely raised party point treating important enough element way address issue causation without adding time expense see supra case example moore succeed retaliation claim without showing assistant attorney worse unabashed careerist show prosecutor probable cause claim retaliation vitality sum complexity causation claim prosecution induced official bent retaliation addressed specifically defining elements tort probable cause absence least evidentiary issue practically cases showing absence probable cause high probative force made mandatory little added cost makes sense require showing element plaintiff case hold must pleaded proven judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered chief justice justice alito took part consideration decision case michael hartman frank kormann pierce mcintosh norman robbins robert edwards petitioners william moore writ certiorari appeals district columbia circuit april justice ginsburg justice breyer joins dissenting appeals reviewing record far made determined evidence retaliatory motive came close proverbial smoking gun cadc record also indicated postal inspectors engaged unusual prodding strenuously urging reluctant attorney office press charges moore ibid following circuit precedent appeals held plaintiff shows conduct sheltered first amendment motivating factor decision press charges burden shifts defending officials show case pursued anyway recognizing case directed instigating postal inspectors alone prosecutor assign plaintiff burden pleading proving absence probable cause prosecution instead agreement appeals assign postal inspectors urged prosecution burden showing retaliatory motive importuning attorney office nonetheless pursued case proof burden allocation saddles plaintiff alleged victim burden plead prove lack probable cause entirely baseless prosecutions checked long retaliators present evidence barely sufficient establish probable cause persuade prosecutor act thin information accomplish mission cost free victim hand incur costs entailed mounting defense likely sustain reputational loss well neither loss compensable federal law circuit formulation bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents recovery remains possible rare cases strong motive evidence combines weak probable cause support finding investigation ensuing prosecution occurred defending officials retaliatory animus situations likely rare seems warrant structuring cause action ante precludes relief arise reasons fully developed circuit opinion conclude full accord decision mt healthy city bd ed doyle appeals decision strikes proper balance therefore affirm circuit judgment footnotes see seaberry durenberger begins campaign zip code washington post describing senator david durenberger reference zip campaign mnemonic plague contagious bivens established victims constitutional violation federal agent right recover damages official federal despite absence statute conferring right carlson green though limited respects relevant bivens action federal analog suits brought state officials rev stat see wilson layne see also waxman morrison kind immunity federal officers state criminal law supremacy clause yale section applies state local officers bivens inferred parallel damages action federal officers moore wife originally filed complaint jointly claims dismissed lack standing see dickens bleak house moore contends like appeals us exceed appellate jurisdiction address issue probable cause see brief respondent argument mistaken true disagreement requirement arose inspectors motion summary judgment defense moore stresses interlocutory appeal taken rejection qualified immunity stage questions turning definition violation sufficiency evidence show defendant fact entitled immunity claimed see mitchell forsyth moore says issue probable cause absence simply evidentiary matter going entitlement fact inspectors making claim evidence case arguing hold showing probable cause element kind claim moore making agreeing inspectors addressing requirement causation moore must plead prove order win holding go beyond definition element tort directly implicated defense qualified immunity properly us interlocutory appeal see ibid see also britton mt healthy city bd ed doyle fact many appellate challenges brought second fifth eleventh circuits require plaintiffs show absence probable cause see izen catalina per curiam wood kesler keenan tejeda singer fulton county sheriff post fort lauderdale mozzochi borden magnotti kuntz indeed even though appeals case held plaintiffs show absence probable cause order make claims nevertheless acknowledged probable cause significance suits see cadc given probable cause ordinarily suffices initiate prosecution showing enough cases establish prosecution occurred absent bad intent bivens recovery remains possible however rare cases strong motive evidence combines weak probable cause support finding prosecution occurred officials retaliatory animus action still brought prosecutor conduct taken investigatory capacity absolute immunity extend see buckley fitzsimmons absolute immunity prosecutor acts administrative capacity burns reed absolute immunity attach prosecutor offers legal advice police regarding interrogation practices fact moore complaint charged prosecutor acting investigative well prosecutorial capacity see app dismissal complaint prosecutor affirmed cadc claim us one claims simply conducting retaliatory investigation view promote prosecution constitutional tort part moore complaint see app whether expense adverse consequences retaliatory investigation ever justify recognizing investigation distinct constitutional violation us may suggest structure cause action alternative dispensing requirement show probable cause plaintiff evidence direct admission prosecutor irrespective probable cause prosecutor sole purpose initiating criminal prosecution acquiesce inducements government agents harbored retaliatory animus cf armstrong leaving open question whether criminal defendant must satisfy similarly situated requirement case direct admissions prosecutors discriminatory brackets original seem little like proposing retirement plans include possibility winning lottery unambiguous admissions successful inducement likely rare hassles adequacy admissions predictable result exemption requirement allowed