Ala. Educ. Ass'n v. Bentley
Decision Date | 07 January 2013 |
Docket Number | Civil Action No. CV-11-S-761-NE |
Parties | ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION; et al., Plaintiffs, v. ROBERT BENTLEY, in his official capacity as Governor of the State of Alabama and President of the State School Board; et al., Defendants. |
Court | U.S. District Court — Northern District of Alabama |
This action is before the court on motions to quash subpoenas duces tecum issued by plaintiffs to four non-parties: i.e., Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh; Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mike Hubbard; former Alabama Governor Robert R. ("Bob") Riley; and, current Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley, who was a defendant until August 22, 2012, when all claims against him were dismissed.1 Understanding how the documents sought by the contested subpoenas relate to claims asserted by plaintiffs requires a review of the case's procedural history.
The Alabama Education Association ("AEA"), Alabama Voice of Teachers for Education ("A-VOTE"), and six individuals affiliated with those organizations commenced this action in February of 2011.2 They challenged the constitutionalityof Alabama Act No. 2010-761 ("Act No. 761"), an amendment of preexisting law that was enacted by the Alabama Legislature on December 15, 2010, and signed into law by Governor Riley on December 20, 2010.3
Prior to the enactment of Act No. 761, Alabama Code § 16-22-6 directed city and county boards of education, as well as some post-secondary institutions, to adopt procedures to allow employees to deduct from their paychecks contributions for, among other things, "membership dues" and "voluntary contributions." The pertinent portion of the statute as it then existed provided that:
Each local board of education and certain postsecondary institutions shall adopt policies or regulations which will provide for deductions from salaries of its employees or groups of employees whenever a request is presented to the board or postsecondary institution by the employees or groups. The deductions shall be made from salaries earned in at least nine different pay periods and shall be remitted to the appropriate company, association, or organization as specified by the employees within 10 days following each deduction. The deductions may be made for, but [are] not limited to, savings plans, tax sheltered annuities, the Public Employees' Individual Retirement Account Fund, membership dues, voluntary contributions, and group insurance premiums. Deductions for membership dues and voluntary contributions shall be made based upon membership lists and forms provided by the employees' organization. Such lists are to be corrected, updated, and returned to the employees' designated organization(s) not later than November 10 of each school year. . . .
Ala. Code § 16-22-6(a) (1975) (2001 Replacement Vol.) (emphasis and alterationsupplied). Those statutory requirements had been a part of the corpus of Alabama law since at least 1973. Relatedly, Alabama Code § 36-1-4.3 provided that:
Ala. Code § 36-1-4.3 (1975) (2001 Replacement Vol.) (emphasis supplied). Again, the basis for those statutory requirements had been a part of the corpus of Alabama law since at least 1985.
Both of the foregoing statutes were tempered by Alabama Code § 17-17-5, which is located in a chapter addressing "Election Offenses," and which read as follows prior to the enactment of Act. No. 761:
No person in the employment of the State of Alabama, a county, or a city whether classified or unclassified, shall use any state, county,or city funds, property or time, for any political activities. Any person who is in the employment of the State of Alabama, a county, or a city shall be on approved leave to engage in political action or the person shall be on personal time before or after work and on holidays. It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee to solicit any type of political campaign contributions from other employees who work for the officer or employee in a subordinate capacity. It shall also be unlawful for any officer or employee to coerce or attempt to coerce any subordinate employee to work in any capacity in any political campaign or cause. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of the crime of trading in public office and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined or sentenced, or both, as provided by Section 13A-10-63.
Ala. Code § 17-17-5 (1975) (2007 Replacement Vol.).4
Act No. 761 specifically addressed Alabama Code § 17-17-5, and amended the language of that provision in the following manner:
To continue reading
Request your trial