Former Magistrate and Virginia Office of the Executive Secretary Agree to Resolve Lawsuit Challenging Magistrate’s Termination

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that former Virginia magistrate Elizabeth Fuller and officials of the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia (“OES”) have agreed to resolve Ms. Fuller’s First Amendment lawsuit challenging her termination.

The lawsuit, which Judicial Watch filed on Fuller’s behalf on March 1, 2022, alleged that Fuller was fired from her position as a City of Alexandria magistrate after commenting to the Alexandria Timesabout the public outcome of a 2020 complaint she filed against Virginia bail bondsman Man Nguyen.  Fuller alleged in the lawsuit that the termination violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.  In response, the OES officials denied Fuller’s allegations and stated that her termination was lawful as her comments as published in the October 7, 2021, Alexandria Times article related to criminal proceedings in the circuit in which she served as a magistrate, violating the Canons of Conduct for Virginia Magistrates. 

“We strongly believe public employees do not sign away their free speech rights when answering the call to public service,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.  “We are pleased Ms. Fuller and OES were able to resolve their differences.”

The agreement is not an admission of fault or liability on behalf of any party.

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