Supreme Court backs Secret Service arrest of man confronting Cheney

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8. FACTS:

A Secret Service agent assigned to protect the vice president said he heard a man standing nearby say into a cellphone that he planned to ask Mr. Cheney “how many kids he’s killed today.” The man, Steven Howards, later approached Mr. Cheney and said the administration’s “policies in Iraq are disgusting.”

Mr. Howards also touched Mr. Cheney on the shoulder. Mr. Howards said the gesture was an openhanded pat. Secret Service agents described it as a forceful push. Writing for the court, Justice Clarence Thomas said the dispute over the manner of the touch “does not affect our analysis.”

One agent, Virgil D. Reichle, later confronted Mr. Howards and asked him if he had assaulted the vice president. Mr. Howards falsely denied having touched Mr. Cheney and said, “If you don’t want other people sharing their opinions, you should have him avoid public places.”

Mr. Reichle arrested Mr. Howards for assault and turned him over to the local authorities. He was charged with harassment under state law, but those charges were dropped.

Mr. Howards sued, saying the arrest had violated his First Amendment rights.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/us/secret-service-agents-cant-be-sued-justices-rule.html?hp