Pacific Justice Institute Filed Federal Lawsuit for Iowa Jail Administrator Fired Over Religious Speech
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa on behalf of Dean Naylor, a former jail administrator who alleged he was unlawfully terminated by Muscatine County after expressing his religious beliefs outside of work.
The case, Naylor v. Muscatine County, challenged the County’s decision to terminate Mr. Naylor after a series of personal blog posts and videos published over five years earlier in his capacity as a private citizen were brought to light by a media report.
Mr. Naylor served for more than a decade as Jail Administrator for the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office and maintained an exemplary record with no disciplinary actions during his tenure. The lawsuit alleged that the County terminated his employment in 2020 because of the religious viewpoints he expressed outside the workplace through the videos that were posted over five years earlier.
According to the complaint, Mr. Naylor’s statements, based on his sincerely held Christian beliefs, were made on his own time, using personal resources, and without any connection to his official duties. The lawsuit further asserted that the County took adverse action without evidence of workplace misconduct and raised concerns under federal employment and constitutional law.
PJI contended that the County’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of religion, as well as protections guaranteed under the First Amendment, including free speech and the free exercise of religion.
“This case struck at the very core of our constitutional freedoms,” said Brad Dacus, founder and president of PJI. “Americans have the right to live out their faith in daily life. When a government employer penalizes religious expression, it raises serious constitutional concerns and calls for accountability.”
PJI attorney Robert Anderson, who represented Mr. Naylor, emphasized the broader legal implications of the case:
“Mr. Naylor exercised his rights as a private citizen. The complaint reflected that his statements were made outside of work and did not interfere with his job responsibilities. This case addressed whether a government employer could take action based on protected religious expression.”
The complaint also alleged that the County’s actions would deter individuals from engaging in protected speech and raised concerns about the impact on religious expression.
The case was resolved in November 2025, when the parties reached a settlement following a court-ordered conference, and the lawsuit was subsequently dismissed. Muscatine County agreed to pay approximately $85,000 to resolve the claims, bringing the litigation to a close.
The case continues to serve as a reminder of the legal protections afforded to individuals who seek to live out their faith in the workplace.
Pacific Justice Institute remains committed to defending individuals across the nation who face discrimination for living out their faith.
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