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Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
A First Amendment discrimination lawsuit brought by a former Tennessee state employee over her firing after making a disparaging comment online about the death of Charlie Kirk will move forward after a judge denied a motion to dismiss.
Monica Meeks was terminated from her position at the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) in September of 2025 for a social media comment made on a friend’s post memorializing Kirk, calling him a “White Supremacist.”
She was terminated after an internal investigation alleged the employee linked herself to the department over social media and “revealed bias and disregard toward the very people she was tasked with serving.”
Meeks then filed suit against TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated by the firing as she was commenting as a private individual and that Lawrence retaliated against her for disagreeing with her personal beliefs.
Her legal team has maintained that Meeks’ comments did not constitute a fireable offense as they were made on her personal Facebook page which did not identify her as a state employee and she did not cause a disruption to the department’s work, though Lawrence and the internal investigation have insisted otherwise.
Lawrence filed a request to dismiss the suit, arguing Meeks’ ability to comment did not outweigh the department’s interest in operating “effectively and maintaining public trust.” He also contended he should be shielded under qualified immunity from Meeks’ claim for damages against him as an individual.
U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger did not decide on either question, as the motion-to-dismiss stage is meant to assess the legal viability of a claim rather than weighing evidence itself, but did rule against the dismissal, allowing the suit to proceed.
In the order, Trauger determined that factual findings not yet able to be made were needed to decide whether Meeks’ speech interest outweighed the state’s workplace interests, noting that the TDCI had acknowledged during Meeks’ internal appeal of her firing that she spoke “as a private citizen on a matter of public concern.”
However, the department upheld the firing, insisting workplace interests outweighed Meeks’ “limited speech interest”.
The judge also said it was premature to decide if Lawrence is entitled to qualified immunity.
“The court is not in a position to determine ‘whether a right is clearly established,’ given the lack of ‘any factual development beyond the allegations’ in the Complaint,” the order says.
With this ruling, the lawsuit can now proceed to the discovery stage, with the potential for Lawrence to be held personally liable, and a case management conference has been scheduled for Oct. 19 for the parties to further discuss timelines and organize the case moving forward.
Meeks’ case is one of several in Tennessee in which government or academic employees have sued over disciplinary measures or terminations for comments made about Kirk or his death.
Several have resulted in hefty settlements, including a $1.9 million settlement from the University of Tennessee to former professor Tamar Shirinian who called Kirk “a disgusting psychopath” and said his widow was a “sick f***.”
As many complainants have been victorious in their suits, either receiving settlements, being reinstated to their positions, or both, there is a chance that Meeks will find similar success as more cases become legal precedent or government entities wish to spare the time and expense of a trial.
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About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
State gubmint is terminally infested with lucifer’s accursed dimmercraps like Monica Meeks.