Court curbs right to sue by 'whistle-blowers'

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a government ''whistle-blower'' does not have an independent right to sue his superior for violating his First Amendment rights.

The ruling said federal courts may act to rectify constitutional harms done by the government to its employees. Lower courts may even exercise that power when Congress has not passed a law specifying awards of money damages. But, in ruling against a government aerospace engineer, the court said that power is to be exercised cautiously.