The last I heard, Dr. Thames was your employer, not some "nebulous" entity like the law of the land. Quite simply, regardless of what you or your misguided personal boss have thought, the law means you both to take your orders from the United States Constitution and it is not up to you to decide otherwise. Nobody is insulated from personal liability for failing to do so. Even the folks at The Thomas Cooley School of Law should have taught you about the constitution, or maybe you missed that class. I hope I am not the only one to report you to your alma mater for gross insubordination to the laws you were sworn to uphold.
PS I have actually drank (drunk? have drinken?) Double Cola, years ago in Memphis. So it must have been regional, but not confined to the Picayune area.