The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently rendered an important decision protecting the free speech rights of public employees from retaliatory actions. In Specht v. City of New York, 15 F.4th 594 (2d Cir. 2021), the court held that a NYC fire marshal was entitled to pursue his First Amendment retaliation claim based on his complaints to outside authorities about an allegedly corrupt FDNY investigation, and his refusal to file a false investigatory report. The court found that the fire marshal engaged in speech that was a matter of public concern and was not pursuant to his official duties.