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a - - ' Amendment free-speech rights. The state court said, “Writing one’s congress- ; Man or newspaper and expressing one’s displea- 'sure with the current political system is one | thing, contacting such officials after one has cred- ibly and categorically threatened their lives is | another. | “The former falls within the ambit of the First Amendment's protection; the latter constitutes a criminal act, which is clearly not constitutionally protected behavior.” The state court also said, “Public officials, — newspapers and even insurance adjusters must anticipate being the target of vigorous criticism. They do not have to be the very literal target of threats to shoot them.” State Deputy Attorney General J. Scott Robi- |mette, who was a special prosecutor in the case, i was out of his Pittsburgh office Friday and could ‘not be reached for comment. ' Fenton also was convicted by a federal jury on ' similar charges in the threats concerning the con- | gressman. That conviction was overturned by fed-. ‘eral Judge D. Brooks Smith.