Constitution Takes a Beating in North Florida

Talking about the Constitution can be dangerous if you work for a Florida State Attorney's Office.

Prosecutor KrisAnne Hall was fired after espousing her "originalist" views at a Tea Party gathering. State Attorney Robert "Skip" Jarvis said such talk was out of bounds.

"She can go and speak anywhere she wants to, and do anything within the law, but she can't do it while carrying my badge, not when people identify her with this office," the Hamilton County-based state attorney told the Tallahassee Democrat.

But Hall said her Gainesville talk, which, in part, discussed Florida's lawsuit against the Obama health-care plan, was on her time and her dime -- and she's appealing her removal from the $55,000-a-year job.

"Are you telling me that I cannot, on my personal time, render a constitutional opinion supporting the activities of our STATE government?" Hall asked Jarvis in one e-mail.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum came to Hall's defense Tuesday in a letter to Jarvis, stating:

"Although I have not personally reviewed any contract you may have with your employees, it is difficult to see any nexus between Ms. Hall's free speech activities and her employment."

Jarvis, who said he hadn't see McCollum's letter and declined comment, reportedly had been involved in campaign activities for former Democratic state Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville in 2006.

This whole rigamarole -- not to mention spending tax dollars to defend Hall's dubious dismissal -- would appear to strengthen the Tea Parties' case against Big Brother's government.