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  6,/(5&LUFXLW-XGJH Plaintiff Lewell Marcum filed this
42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against the late Sam Catron, in his
official capacity as Sheriff of Pulaski County, Kentucky
("Catron" or "Sheriff"), alleging that he was fired as a result
of his intimate relationship and cohabitation with a married
woman in violation of his right of association as guaranteed
by the First and Fourteenth Amendments. He appeals the
district court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of
Catron based on its conclusion that his adulterous relationship
was not constitutionally protected. For the reasons that
follow, we affirm.
                         Background
   The parties agree that the basic facts in this case concerning
the relationship between Lewell Marcum and Rena Abbott are
not in dispute. Marcum was hired as a Pulaski County deputy
sheriff in February 1986. He separated from his wife on May
8, 1997. Prior to the separation, Marcum lived with his wife
and their two children in the martial residence, except for two
brief periods in 1996. His divorce was not final until March
11, 1999.
  During the course of his work as a deputy sheriff, Marcum
met Rena Abbott in 1994 or 1995. When the two met, Abbott
was married and living with her husband and their children.
From the initial meeting until their cohabitation, Marcum and
       0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU                                         1R           1R                       0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU          

PDMRULW\ RSLQLRQ , EHOLHYH WKDW WKH VKRUW GXUDWLRQ RI WKH                        Abbott were just "good friends" whose respective spouses and
UHODWLRQVKLS IDFWRUV LQWR ZKHWKHU LW VKRXOG EH DIIRUGHG                             families were social acquaintances whose association was
FRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQ,GDW                                                    marked by family outings and get-togethers.
  3ODLQWLII¶VUHODWLRQVKLSDOVRGLIIHUVPDUNHGO\IURPWKHW\SH                                As an informant, Abbott frequently met with Marcum to
RIUHODWLRQVKLSDWLVVXHLQ%ULJJVZKHUHWKLV&RXUWVXPPDULO\                             discuss cases. At some point, at least by June 1996, their
DIILUPHG WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW¶V ILQGLQJ WKDW WKH SODLQWLII¶V                          relationship had progressed sufficiently to attract the attention
GLVFKDUJH YLRODWHG KLV ULJKWV WR SULYDF\ DQG LQWLPDWH                               of Chief Deputy Swartz, who counseled Marcum about
DVVRFLDWLRQ  3ODLQWLII FDQQRW GHQ\ RQ WKLV UHFRUG WKDW KLV                       Abbott’s visits to his office and the courthouse. The
UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK $EERWW EHFDPH D SXEOLF PDWWHU DQG ZDV                            relationship had become the subject of rumors in and around
LQWHUWZLQHGZLWKDQGDIIHFWHGKLVMRESHUIRUPDQFH,QGHHG                                both the sheriff’s department and the courthouse.
ZHKDYHQRWHGWKDW³>W@KHVLJQLILFDQFHRI%ULJJVOLHVLQWKH                               Additionally, Sheriff Catron received numerous complaints
IDFWWKDWWKHRIILFHULQWKDWFDVHZDVGLVPLVVHGVROHO\EHFDXVH                            concerning Marcum’s association with Abbott from
RIKLVOLYLQJVWDWXVZLWKRXWDQ\UHIHUHQFHDVWRKRZWKDWVWDWXV                          employees within his department, as well as persons working
FRXOGKDYHDIIHFWHGKLVSHUIRUPDQFHDVDQRIILFHU´+XJKHV                               at the courthouse and various citizens within the community.
)GDW3ODLQWLIIPHW$EERWWRQWKHMREZKHUHVKH
VHUYHGDVDFRQILGHQWLDOLQIRUPDQWKHZDVUHSULPDQGHGIRU                                   The relationship reached a turning point in September
WKHWLPHKHVSHQWZLWKKHUZKLOHRQGXW\DQGRQDWOHDVWRQH                              1997. While on duty on September 4, Marcum informed
RFFDVLRQVKRUWO\EHIRUHKLVGLVFKDUJHKDGDSXEOLFDOWHUFDWLRQ                             Abbott that her husband was making passes at her best friend.
ZLWKKLVDGXOWGDXJKWHURYHUWKHUHODWLRQVKLSDWKLVZRUNSODFH                            Abbott asked Marcum to go with her to confront the woman,
&I %ULJJV  )6XSS DW  QRWLQJ WKDW SODLQWLII KDG                         which he agreed to do. After receiving confirmation of
SHUIRUPHG KLV GXWLHV VDWLVIDFWRULO\ XS XQWLO WKH WLPH RI KLV                      Marcum’s information, Abbott moved out of the marital
VXVSHQVLRQ DQG WKDW SODLQWLII KLPVHOI EURXJKW    KLV OLYLQJ                      residence and into her brother’s cottage where she remained
DUUDQJHPHQWVWRWKHDWWHQWLRQRIKLVVXSHULRU                                          with her children until September 9 or 10. During her stay at
                                                                                           the cottage, Abbott discussed with Marcum her inability to
   7KH 6XSUHPH&RXUWKDVKHOGWKDWWKHUHDUHOLPLWVRQWKH                                rent a place of her own and the possibility of their renting a
W\SHV RI UHODWLRQVKLSV WKDW PLJKW ZDUUDQW FRQVWLWXWLRQDO                             place together, sharing expenses. There had been no
SURWHFWLRQ  5REHUWV  86 DW   $OWKRXJK VXFK                             discussion of cohabitation between Marcum and Abbott prior
SURWHFWLRQLVH[WHQGHGEH\RQGIDPLOLDOUHODWLRQVKLSVWKXVIDU                             to Abbott’s leaving her husband.
WKH &RXUW KDV QHYHUWKHOHVV LQGLFDWHG WKDW WKH UHODWLRQVKLSV
PRVWOLNHO\WRZDUUDQWVXFKSURWHFWLRQDUHWKRVHWKDWLQYROYH                                The two then rented a townhouse and began living together
³GHHSDWWDFKPHQWVDQGFRPPLWPHQWV´LQZKLFKRQHVKDUHV                                    on September 9 or 10. Marcum testified that they were not
DPRQJRWKHUWKLQJVWKRVH³SHUVRQDODVSHFWVRIRQH¶VOLIH´,G                           contemplating sharing a life together, or anything of that
DW%HFDXVH,ILQGWKDWWKHREMHFWLYHIDFWRUVWKDWWKH                             nature when they assumed their cohabitation. Abbott testified
6XSUHPH&RXUWKDVLQVWUXFWHGFRXUWVWRHPSOR\LQGHWHUPLQLQJ                               that at the time they moved into the townhouse, the
                                                                                           arrangement was strictly a roommate type relationship with
     
                                                                                           both paying their share of the costs. Marcum also testified
      7KLV   LV   QRW   WR   H[SUHVV   DQ   RSLQLRQ   RQ   WKH   XOWLPDWH   UHDVRQ   IRU   that he and Abbott did not engage in sexual relations until
3ODLQWLII¶V GLVFKDUJH DV WKLV PD\ EH GLVSXWHG 7KLV LV VLPSO\ WR SRLQW RXW
                                                                                           after they moved in together. Abbott’s testimony, however,
WKDW 3ODLQWLII FDQQRW FODLP RQ WKLV UHFRUG WKDW KLV UHODWLRQVKLS ZDV D SXUHO\
SULYDWH DIIDLU WKDW GLG QRW DIIHFW KLV GXWLHV
                                                                                           places the date of their first sexual relations on September 5,
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the day after she left her husband and prior to her cohabitation                YLRODWLYHRIHTXDOSURWHFWLRQDVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQDODPHQGPHQW
with Marcum. Noting this inconsistency, but viewing the                         WKDWDPRQJRWKHUWKLQJVUHSHDOHGH[LVWLQJODZWKDWEDQQHG
facts in the light most favorable to Marcum, the district court                 GLVFULPLQDWLRQ DJDLQVW KRPRVH[XDOV DQG QRWLQJ ZLWKRXW
found that Marcum and Abbott were romantically involved to                      UHIHUHQFH WR %RZHUV WKDW UHDFK RI DPHQGPHQW FRXOG
some degree when they moved in together.                                        SRWHQWLDOO\VXEMHFWWKLVJURXSWRDUELWUDU\GLVFULPLQDWLRQ%XW
                                                                                VHHLGDWFRQWHQGLQJWKDWVWDWHDPHQGPHQWGHSULYLQJ
   Regardless of their relationship prior to their cohabitation,                KRPRVH[XDOVRIULJKWVZDVUDWLRQDOLQDVPXFKDV&RXUWKDG
it is undisputed that Marcum and Abbott were romantically                       KHOG LQ %RZHUV WKDW IURP WKH LQFHSWLRQ RI WKH FRXQWU\
involved during the time they lived together and certainly at                   KRPRVH[XDOFRQGXFWZDVDFULPH6FDOLD-GLVVHQWLQJ
the time of Marcum’s dismissal. After learning of this living
arrangement, Sheriff Catron told Marcum that either he or                         ,QDQ\HYHQW,DJUHHZLWKWKHPDMRULW\RSLQLRQWKDW3ODLQWLII
Abbott would have to move out. Marcum was discharged on                         IDLOVWRVKRZWKDWDQDVVHVVPHQWRIWKHREMHFWLYHIDFWRUVRIKLV
September 19, 1997, upon his perceived failure to comply                        UHODWLRQVKLSSODFHVLWDWWKHHQGRIWKHVSHFWUXPZLWKWKRVH
with Catron’s directive. The living arrangement between                         UHODWLRQVKLSV WKDW WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KDV IRXQG ZDUUDQW
Marcum and Abbott lasted approximately one month.2Q                          FRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQXQGHUWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQW¶VULJKW
2FWREHU$EERWWOHIWWRUHFRQFLOHZLWKKHUKXVEDQG7KH                      RILQWLPDWHDVVRFLDWLRQ$OWKRXJK3ODLQWLII¶VUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK
PDLQUHDVRQVKHFLWHGIRUOHDYLQJZDVWKDWKHUROGHVWGDXJKWHU                  5HQD$EERWWLQYROYHGRQO\WZRLQGLYLGXDOVDQGZDVVH[XDOLQ
GLG QRW JHW DORQJ ZLWK 0DUFXP  6KH DOVR WHVWLILHG WKDW               QDWXUH WKH UHFRUG GRHV QRW VXSSRUW WKH ILQGLQJ WKDW WKLV
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LQKRPRVH[XDOVRGRP\7KHDUJXPHQWWKHUHIRUHJRHVWKDWWKLV              )HG 5 &LY 3 F  7KXV VXPPDry judgment is
&RXUWVKRXOGQRWH[SDQGWKHULJKWRILQWLPDWHDVVRFLDWLRQWR              appropriate if a party who has the burden of proof at trial fails
LQFOXGH UHODWLRQVKLSV WKDW PLJKW EH FRQVLGHUHG DGXOWHURXV          to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an
+RZHYHU GHVSLWH %RZHUV ³WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KDV QRW                element that is essential to that party's case. See Celotex
GHILQLWLYHO\DQVZHUHGWKHGLIILFXOWTXHVWLRQZKHWKHUDQGWR               Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986).
ZKDWH[WHQWWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQSURKLELWVDVWDWHRUVWDWHDFWRU
IURP UHJXODWLQJ WKH SULYDWH FRQVHQVXDO VH[XDO EHKDYLRU RI                                    Discussion
DGXOWV´+XJKHVY&LW\RI12OPVWHG)G
WK &LU   )XUWKHU LQ OLJKW RI WKH NLQG RI UHDVRQLQJ     Marcum maintains that his exclusive, romantic and sexually
VXJJHVWHGE\%ULJJVLWFDQQRWEHVDLGWKDWDUHODWLRQVKLSWKDW           intimate relationship and cohabitation with a married woman
PLJKW EH FRQVLGHUHG DGXOWHURXV LSVR IDFWR VWULSV WKH               is entitled to protection under the constitutional right of
UHODWLRQVKLSRIDOOFRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQ%RZHUVGRHVQRW           association and, as a result, the Sheriff could not legally fire
UHTXLUHWKDWZHJLYHGLVSRVLWLYHZHLJKWHQWLUHO\WRRQHIDFWRU          him for such behavior. He argues that the district court
WKHDGXOWHURXVQDWXUHRIWKHUHODWLRQVKLSDQGLJQRUHDOORWKHU           erroneously dismissed his claim by categorically denying
IDFWRUVWKH&RXUWVHWIRUWKLQ5REHUWVDQGH[SRXQGHGXSRQLQ              constitutional protection based on its labeling his relationship
5RWDU\GHFLGHGDIWHU%RZHUVLQDVVHVVLQJZKHWKHUDFHUWDLQ              "adulterous," offending the spirit of the Constitution and
UHODWLRQVKLSVKRXOGEHDIIRUGHGFRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQ               ignoring the factors and analysis set forth by the United States
                                                                          Supreme Court.
  :KDWHYHUWKHSHUFHLYHGUHDFKRI%RZHUVDPDMRULW\RIWKH
&RXUW VLQFH %RZHUV KDV QRW DGRSWHG WKH SRVLWLRQ WKDW QR            The two seminal cases defining the right of intimate
PDWWHU KRZ XQUHDVRQDEOH DQ\ JRYHUQPHQW DFWLRQ WDNHQ                association that this court must look to for guidance are
DJDLQVWFRQVHQWLQJDGXOWVZKRVHUHODWLRQVKLSVPD\LQYROYH                Roberts v. United States Jaycees, 468 U.S. 609 (1984), and
RWKHUZLVHSHUPLVVLEO\VWDWHSURVFULEHGVH[XDODFWLYLW\VXFKDV           Board of Directors of Rotary Int’l v. Rotary Club of Duarte,
KRPRVH[XDO VRGRP\ ZLOO VXUYLYH FRQVWLWXWLRQDO VFUXWLQ\              481 U.S. 537 (1987).           Roberts explained that the
EHFDXVHRIWKHQDWXUHRIWKHDGXOW¶VVH[XDODFWLYLW\DORQH6HH         constitutionally protected "freedom of association" has been
HJ 5RPHU Y (YDQV  86    KROGLQJ          recognized in the case law in two distinct forms. First, the
     0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU                          1R      1R                        0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU           

Supreme Court has identified "a right to associate for the          GLYLGHGRYHUZKHWKHUH[WUDPDULWDOVH[XDODFWLYLW\LQFOXGLQJ
purpose of engaging in those activities protected by the First      DGXOWHURXVDFWLYLW\LVFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\SURWHFWHGLQDZD\WKDW
Amendment--speech, assembly, petition for the redress of            IRUELGVSXEOLFHPSOR\HUVIURPGLVFLSOLQLQJHPSOR\HHVZKR
grievances, and the exercise of religion." Roberts, 468 U.S.        HQJDJHLQVXFKDFWLYLW\%ULJJV86DW:KLWH-
at 618. Next, the Court has recognized a certain right of           GLVVHQWLQJ  -XVWLFH :KLWH ZRXOG KDYH JUDQWHG FHUWLRUDUL
intimate association reasoning that "choices to enter into and      LQDVPXFK DV WKH FDVH ZRXOG KDYH JLYHQ WKH &RXUW DQ
maintain certain intimate human relationships must be               RSSRUWXQLW\WRFRQVLGHU³WKHFRQWRXUVRIWKHULJKWRISULYDF\
secured against undue intrusion by the State because of the         DIIRUGHGLQGLYLGXDOVIRUVH[XDOPDWWHUV´,G
role of such relationships in safeguarding the individual
freedom that is central to our constitutional scheme. In this          7KH PDMRULW\ RSLQLRQ FRUUHFWO\ QRWHV WKDW WKH 6XSUHPH
respect, freedom of association receives protection as a            &RXUWKDVQRWUHVWULFWHGWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWRILQWLPDWH
fundamental element of personal liberty." Id. at 617-18. The        DVVRFLDWLRQ WR UHODWLRQVKLSV DPRQJ IDPLO\ PHPEHUV  6HH
personal relationship at issue in this case does not involve        5RWDU\  86 DW   )XUWKHU WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KDV
expressive activity. Rather, this case involves an alleged          UHMHFWHGWKHDUJXPHQWWKDWDOWKRXJKSXEOLFHPSOR\PHQWPD\
intrusion by the state into Marcum’s intimate human                 EHGHQLHGDOWRJHWKHUVXFKHPSOR\PHQWPD\EHVXEMHFWWRDQ\
relationship in violation of his right of intimate association.     FRQGLWLRQ DW DOO QR PDWWHU KRZ XQUHDVRQDEOH   6HH HJ
                                                                    3LFNHULQJY%GRI(GXFRI7RZQVKLS+LJK6FKRRO'LVW
   The Court in Roberts expressed that in order to secure           86FLWLQJ.H\LVKLDQY%RDUGRI5HJHQWV
individual liberty, it "must afford the formation and               86)RUDVWDWHWRGLVPLVVDQLQGLYLGXDO
preservation of certain kinds of highly personal relationships      VROHO\EHFDXVHWKHUHODWLRQVKLSLQZKLFKKHRUVKHLVLQYROYHG
a substantial measure of sanctuary from unjustified                 PLJKWEHODEHOHGDGXOWHURXVPD\EHXQUHDVRQDEOHXQGHUVRPH
interference by the State." Id. at 618 (citations omitted).         FLUFXPVWDQFHV  )RU LQVWDQFH XQGHU WKH PDMRULW\ RSLQLRQ¶V
Without precisely defining every consideration underlying           DSSURDFK HYHQ D ORQJWHUP UHODWLRQVKLS LQ ZKLFK WKH
this type of constitutional protection, the Court noted that        SDUWLFLSDQWVKDYHUHVLGHGWRJHWKHUUDLVHGFKLOGUHQDQGOLYHG
"certain kinds of personal bonds have played a critical role in     HVVHQWLDOO\DVDPDUULHGFRXSOHFRXOGEHEH\RQGWKHSDOHRI
the culture and traditions of the Nation by cultivating and         FRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQZKHUHRQHRUERWKLQGLYLGXDOVIRU
transmitting shared ideals and beliefs." Id. at 618-19.             ZKDWHYHU UHDVRQ KDV QHYHU OHJDOO\ WHUPLQDWHG D SULRU
(citations omitted). The personal affiliations that exemplify       PDUULDJHDQGKHQFHFRXOGQRWUHPDUU\7KLVZRXOGKROGWUXH
the considerations that warrant constitutional protection and       XQGHU WKH PDMRULW\¶V UHDVRQLQJ GHVSLWH WKH IDFW WKDW VXFK D
suggest limitations on the relationships that might be entitled     UHODWLRQVKLS PLJKW FHUWDLQO\ ³SUHVXSSRVH GHHS DWWDFKPHQWV
to constitutional shelter "are those that attend the creation and   DQGFRPPLWPHQWV´LQZKLFKWKHLQGLYLGXDOV³VKDUH>@QRWRQO\
sustenance of a family," which "are distinguished by such           DVSHFLDOFRPPXQLW\RIWKRXJKWVH[SHULHQFHVDQGEHOLHIVEXW
                                                                    DOVRGLVWLQFWLYHO\SHUVRQDODVSHFWVRI>WKHLUOLYHV@´5REHUWV
attributes as relative smallness, a high degree of selectivity in   86DW
decisions to begin and maintain the affiliation, and seclusion
from others in critical aspects of the relationship." Id. 619-20      7KHPDMRULW\RSLQLRQUHOLHVKHDYLO\RQ%RZHUVY+DUGZLFN
(citations omitted).                                                86DQGQRWHVWKDWWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWKDV
                                                                    UHMHFWHG WKH SURSRVLWLRQ WKDW ³DQ\ NLQG RI SULYDWH VH[XDO
   To determine the limits of state authority over an               FRQGXFW EHWZHHQ FRQVHQWLQJ DGXOWV LV FRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\
individual’s freedom to enter into a particular association, it     LQVXODWHGIURPVWDWHSURVFULSWLRQ´,GDW,Q%RZHUVWKH
is the task of the court to engage in "a careful assessment of
    0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU                            1R       1R                       0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU          

SHUVRQDORUSULYDWHWRZDUUDQWFRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQFRXUWV       where that relationship’s objective characteristics locate it on
PD\FRQVLGHUVL]HSXUSRVHVHOHFWLYLW\DQGZKHWKHURWKHUVDUH        a spectrum from the most intimate to the most attenuated of
H[FOXGHGIURPWKHFULWLFDODVSHFWVRIWKHUHODWLRQVKLS6HH%G       personal attachments," taking into consideration factors that
RI'LUVRI5RWDU\,QW¶OY5RWDU\&OXERI'XDUWH86            may include "size, purpose, policies, selectivity, congeniality,
VHHDOVR5REHUWV86DWQRWLQJ             and other characteristics" that may be pertinent. Id. at 620.
WKDWFRXUWVPD\DOVRFRQVLGHU³RWKHUFKDUDFWHULVWLFVWKDWLQD         Rotary added that while the exact boundaries of this type of
SDUWLFXODUFDVHPD\EHSHUWLQHQW´                                    constitutional protection were not marked, it is not restricted
                                                                       to relationships among family members. See Rotary, 481
  7KHPDMRULW\RSLQLRQKROGVWKDWWKH³DGXOWHURXVQDWXUHRI            U.S. at 545. The Court emphasized that protection is afforded
WKHUHODWLRQVKLS>LQWKLVFDVH@GRHVQRWSRUWUD\DUHODWLRQVKLS        to those relationships that "presuppose deep attachments and
RI WKH PRVW LQWLPDWH YDULHW\ DIIRUGHG SURWHFWLRQ XQGHU WKH     commitments to the necessarily few other individuals with
&RQVWLWXWLRQ´  %URDGO\ FRQVWUXHG WKLV KROGLQJ DSSHDUV WR      whom one shares not only a special community of thoughts,
LQGLFDWH WKDW UHJDUGOHVV RI DQ\ RWKHU IDFWRUV WKDW PLJKW EH   experiences, and beliefs but also distinctively personal aspects
FRQVLGHUHG LQ DVVHVVLQJ ZKHWKHU D UHODWLRQVKLS VKRXOG EH        of one’s life." Id. (internal quotation marks and citation
DIIRUGHGFRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQWKHRQO\UHOHYDQWIDFWRULQ        omitted).
GHWHUPLQLQJ ZKHWKHU D UHODWLRQVKLS VKRXOG EH DIIRUGHG
FRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQLQDFDVHOLNHWKHSUHVHQWLVZKHWKHU         Marcum argues that the district court failed to assess the
WKH UHODWLRQVKLS FDQ EH GHHPHG DGXOWHURXV  , EHOLHYH WKDW    attributes and qualities of the relationship between him and
ZKLOHUHOHYDQWLQPDNLQJVXFKDGHWHUPLQDWLRQWKHDGXOWHURXV          Abbott. Instead, he contends that the court ignored the factors
QDWXUH RI WKH UHODWLRQVKLS DORQH VKRXOG QRW EH GLVSRVLWLYH    and analysis set forth in Roberts and Rotary, and focused
,QGHHGSUHFHGHQWIURPWKLVFLUFXLWGHPRQVWUDWHVDVPXFK              exclusively on whether the relationship attends the creation or
                                                                       sustenance of a family. Marcum correctly points out that
  ,Q%ULJJVY10XVNHJRQ3ROLFH'HS¶W)6XSS               based on the Court’s decision in Rotary, constitutional
:' 0LFK  DII¶G PHP  )G  WK &LU        protection is not limited to family relationships. See id. The
FHUWGHQLHG86WKHGLVWULFWFRXUW           district court, however, noted that relationships afforded this
DIWHUDEHQFKWULDOIRXQGWKDWGHIHQGDQWVYLRODWHGDSODLQWLII¶V      type of constitutional protection are not restricted to those
FRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWWRSULYDF\E\WHUPLQDWLQJDQGUHIXVLQJWR
UHLQVWDWHKLPDVDSROLFHRIILFHUIRUKLVFRKDELWDWLRQZLWKD          between family members. Moreover, the district court
ZRPDQZKLOHWKH\ZHUHERWKPDUULHGWRRWKHUSHRSOH               acknowledged the appropriate analysis set forth in Roberts
)6XSSDW7KHSODLQWLIIFRQWHQGHGWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWV¶          and Rotary and examined the objective characteristics of the
DFWVKDGLQWUXGHGRQKLVFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\JXDUDQWHHGULJKWVRI         relationship between Marcum and Abbott. While there are
SULYDF\DQGDVVRFLDWLRQDQGWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWDJUHHG,GDW        relationships other than those between family members that
                                                                  may be afforded constitutional protection, it does not follow
                                                                       that any relationship that could be objectively qualified as
  $OWKRXJK %ULJJV KDV QR SUHFHGHQWLDO YDOXH EHFDXVH WKLV        "intimate" should be protected.
&RXUWLVVXHGQRSXEOLVKHGRSLQLRQZHQHYHUWKHOHVVDIILUPHG
WKH MXGJPHQW RI WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW ZKLFK IRXQG WKDW WKH         Looking at the factors enunciated in Roberts, 468 U.S. at
DGXOWHURXV UHODWLRQVKLS LQYROYHG LQ WKDW FDVH ZDUUDQWHG          620, and Rotary, 481 U.S. at 545-46, Marcum contends that
FRQVWLWXWLRQDOSURWHFWLRQ,QWKHGLVVHQWIURPWKHGHQLDORI          the court failed to recognize that the association was relatively
FHUWLRUDULLQ%ULJJV-XVWLFH:KLWHQRWHGWKDWWKHFLUFXLWVZHUH       small - just the two of them; highly selective in the decision
                                                                       to begin and maintain the affiliation; and others were secluded
       0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU                                 1R        1R                           0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU            

from the relationship. Based on these objective characteristics                                      BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
and the fact that he and Abbott shared thoughts, experiences
and personal aspects of their lives, Marcum argues that the                                            &21&855(1&(
relationship is constitutionally protected under the right of                                        BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
intimate association. Although these factors may weigh in
favor of a finding of a protected relationship, we find that the                 &/$<&LUFXLW-XGJHFRQFXUULQJ,GRQRWDJUHHZLWKWKH
adulterous nature of the relationship does not portray a                       PDMRULW\RSLQLRQ¶VKROGLQJWKDWEHFDXVHDUHODWLRQVKLSFDQEH
relationship of the most intimate variety afforded protection                  ODEHOHG³DGXOWHURXV´LWVKRXOGQHYHUUHFHLYHFRQVWLWXWLRQDO
under the Constitution.                                                       SURWHFWLRQEXWEHFDXVH,EHOLHYHWKDW3ODLQWLIIIDLOVWRVKRZ
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fellow officer is insufficient to render the court’s reasoning     FKDUDFWHULVWLFWKDWLVSHUWLQHQWWRWKLVFDVHDQGZHILQGWKDWWKH
inapplicable here; the Mercure court did not base its decision     GLVWULFWFRXUWFRUUHFWO\FRQVLGHUHGLWLQGHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHU
on the identity of the parties. Futhermore, as discussed           WKHUHODWLRQVKLSZDVFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\SURWHFWHG
previously, the fact that adultery is legal in Kentucky does not
automatically create constitutional protection, nor does it          1H[W0DUFXPFRQWHQGVWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VUHOLDQFHRQ
change the fact that historically adultery has been considered     %RZHUVY+DUGZLFN86ZKHQDQDO\]LQJ
a crime in many states, including Kentucky. We agree with          WKHIDFWWKDWWKHUHODWLRQVKLSZDVDGXOWHURXVLVPLVSODFHGIRU
the Mercure court’s conclusion that "adulterous conduct is the     %RZHUVZDVFRQFHUQHGSULPDULO\ZLWKWKHULJKWRISULYDF\DQG
very antithesis of marriage and family," and that such             WKH DVVHUWHG IXQGDPHQWDO ULJKW WR HQJDJH LQ KRPRVH[XDO
behavior cannot be compared to any of the "fundamental             VRGRP\  )XUWKHUPRUH 0DUFXP SRLQWV RXW WKDW 5RWDU\
matters of personal choice that lie at the core of traditional     GHFLGHGDIWHU%RZHUVGLGQRWFLWHRUUHVWDWHDQ\SURSRVLWLRQV
notions of individual liberty." Id. at 823 (citation omitted).     IRXQG LQ %RZHUV ZKHQ GHDOLQJ ZLWK WKH ULJKW RI LQWLPDWH
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  Marcum has failed to suggest how his decision to enter into
an intimate, sexual relationship and cohabitation with a              7KH&RXUWLQ5RWDU\ZDVQRWH[DPLQLQJDQLQWLPDWHVH[XDO
married woman is a fundamental right deeply rooted in the          UHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQWZRFRQVHQWLQJDGXOWVDQGUHOLDQFHRQ
Nation’s history and tradition or implicit in the concept of       %RZHUVIRUJXLGDQFHZDVXQQHFHVVDU\%RZHUVLVH[WUHPHO\
ordered liberty. Though perhaps unfair, his dismissal did not      LQVWUXFWLYHLQWKHSUHVHQWFDVHDQGWKHIDFWWKDWWKHFRXUWZDV
infringe his right of association as guaranteed by the First and   DGGUHVVLQJDQRWKHUIXQGDPHQWDOOLEHUW\LQWHUHVWJURXQGHGLQ
Fourteenth Amendments.                                             WKHULJKWRISULYDF\GRHVQRWSUHYHQWWKLVFRXUWIURPUHO\LQJ
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                                                                     In Bowers, the Supreme Court rejected the proposition that
                                                                   "any kind of private sexual conduct between consenting
                                                                   adults is constitutionally insulated from state proscription."
                                                                   Bowers, 478 U.S. at 191. Rather, the Court characterized the
                                                                   fundamental liberties recognized in prior decisions qualifying
                                                                   for heightened judicial scrutiny as those that are "implicit in
                                                                   the concept of ordered liberty, such that neither liberty nor
                                                                   justice would exist if [they] were sacrificed" and "deeply
    0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU                          1R      1R                           0DUFXPY0F:KRUWHU             

rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition." Id. at 191-92       continue to outlaw extramarital acts.The fact that adultery
(internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The Court         is no longer illegal in the Commonwealth of Kentucky does
held that neither of these formulations extended a                  not establish that such conduct is a fundamental liberty
fundamental right to homosexuals to engage in acts of               protected by the Constitution.  %DVHG RQ WKH KLVWRULFDO
consensual sodomy, noting that sodomy was a criminal                WUHDWPHQWRIDGXOWHU\DULJKWWRHQJDJHLQDQLQWLPDWHVH[XDO
offense at common law and was forbidden by the laws of the          UHODWLRQVKLSZLWKWKHVSRXVHRIDQRWKHUFDQQRWEHVDLGWREH
thirteen states when they ratified the Bill of Rights. See id. at   HLWKHUGHHSO\URRWHGLQWKLV1DWLRQ¶VKLVWRU\DQGWUDGLWLRQRU
192. Accordingly, it held that a right to engage in this            LPSOLFLWLQWKHFRQFHSWRIRUGHUHGOLEHUW\7KXVIROORZLQJWKH
conduct was not deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and           6XSUHPH&RXUW¶VGHFLVLRQLQ%RZHUVZHGHFOLQHWRDFFRUG
tradition or implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. See id.    0DUFXP¶V DGXOWHURXV UHODWLRQVKLS WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQDO
at 194. Furthermore, the Court expressed its reluctance to          SURWHFWLRQDIIRUGHGWKRVHLQWLPDWHDVVRFLDWLRQVZKLFKUHFHLYH
"take a more expansive view of our authority to discover new        SURWHFWLRQDVDIXQGDPHQWDOHOHPHQWRISHUVRQDOOLEHUW\
fundamental rights imbedded in the Due Process Clause,"
observing that "[t]he Court is most vulnerable and comes              Relying on both the language and spirit of Bowers, the
nearest to illegitimacy when it deals with judge-made               court in Mercure v. Van Buren Township, 81 F. Supp. 2d 814
constitutional law having little or no cognizable roots in the      (E.D. Mich. 2000), held that the constitutional protections of
language or design of the Constitution." Id.                        the First and Fourteenth Amendments, embodied in the right
                                                                    of intimate association, did not extend to a police officer’s
  Bowers is factually analogous to this case in that it             adulterous relationship with the wife of a fellow officer; thus,
evaluates a consensual sexual relationship between two adults       there was no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for his
and it provides an expansion on the analysis set forth in           discharge. See Mercure, 81 F. Supp. 2d at 825. The district
Roberts and Rotary for cases dealing with private, sexual           court found Mercure to be "both informative and persuasive
relationships. Much like sodomy, proscriptions against              albeit not binding precedent." Marcum argues that in
adultery have ancient roots. Adultery, though not a crime at        Mercure the officer’s relationship with the wife of a fellow
English common law, was punishable under the canon law,             officer distinguishes it from the present case. Additionally,
which was administered by the ecclesiastical courts of              he seeks to distinguish Mercure based on the fact that the
England. See United States v. Clapox, 35 F. 575, 578 (D. Or.        court discussed that Michigan law makes adultery a felony,
1888); 2 Charles E. Torcia, Wharton’s Criminal Law § 210            whereas it is no longer illegal in Kentucky.
(15th ed. 1994). The common law, brought to this country by
the American colonists, did not punish adultery unless the            As discussed by the district court, Marcum’s efforts to
conduct was "open and notorious" as to amount to a "public          distinguish Mercure do not succeed. The fact that the
nuisance," as defined by the English canon law. See Cole v.         plaintiff’s relationship in Mercure was with the wife of a
State, 94 A. 913, 914 (Md. 1915); Torcia, supra. The
Puritans, however, made adultery with a married woman a                 
capital offense and from this Puritan legacy sprung state laws           6HH HJ $UL] 5HY 6WDW  $ )OD 6WDW   *$

criminalizing adultery. See Jeremy D. Weinstein, Note,              &RGH $QQ   .DQ 6WDW $QQ   0LFK &RPS /DZV
                                                                      1& *HQ 6WDW   5, *HQ /DZV   6& &RGH
Adultery, Law, and the State: A History, 38 Hastings L.J.           $QQ    :LV 6WDW $QQ  
195, 225-26 (1986). Even today, there are jurisdictions which
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