Judge Tells Louisiana State U. to Return Law Prof to the Classroom
“Levy on Tuesday sued the university, accusing it of violating his constitutionally protected free speech, academic freedom, and employment and due process rights.”
When this story came out last week, the professor was reported to have spoken ill of Trump in the classroom. In this story, it appears the professor was critical of the governor of Louisiana. Perhaps it was both.
NOLA reports:
Judge tells LSU to return law professor who criticized Jeff Landry back to the classroom
LSU must immediately allow law professor Ken Levy to return to teaching, an East Baton Rouge Parish district judge ruled Thursday morning.
Under a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Donald Johnson, LSU cannot infringe on Levy’s “rights to free speech and due process of laws.” And the school must avoid “further harassing or retaliating” against Levy “on account of his protected academic freedom and free speech.”
Levy on Tuesday sued the university, accusing it of violating his constitutionally protected free speech, academic freedom, and employment and due process rights.
He did so after receiving a Jan. 17 letter from LSU’s human resources department advising him that he was immediately suspended from teaching “pending an investigation into student complaints of inappropriate statements made in your class.”
During the first day of a criminal law course, Levy criticized Gov. Jeff Landry for publicly rebuking another law school professor, Nicholas Bryner, according to legal filings in the case.
Levy said “F*** the governor” in front of students “in a joking manner,” according to court documents filed on Levy’s behalf. He also told students he was a Democrat and gave his “rather colorful opinion” on the outcome of the November presidential election.
A court date is set for Feb. 10 to hear testimony and evidence in the case. A temporary restraining order is in effect for the time being.
“We are grateful for the temporary restraining order issued, and we are looking forward to Professor Levy having his day in court,” said Jill Craft, the attorney representing Levy in the matter. “This is a vitally important issue to us as citizens of this country.”
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Comments
Can’t say I mind this. Removing him from the classroom for cursing at the president seems a bit trigger-happy and a poor precedent.
If he had demanded conformity from his students or graded conservatives worse, that would have been good cause to fire him.
The students are there and paying good money at that to learn the law not listen to a professors rantings about politics. Politics should have nothing to do with the law. The school needs to get rid of this guy if he can’t control himself as he is showing all the signs of biased grading.
Can’t say I mind this. Removing him from the classroom for cursing at the president seems a bit trigger-happy and a poor precedent.
Agreed that it seems a bit trigger-happy. On the other hand, I never heard any political opinions expressed in the classes I took. IMHO, a professor has no business imposing his political opinions on his students, because of the power differential between a professor and his students.
I would have liked students to immediately confront the cursing professor. But that is quite unlikely, for a variety of opinions. Power differential, for example.
What would be the good professor’s response were one of his student to say to him, “F%& Biden,” or “F%& Kamala,” or “F%& Professor Levy?” I very much doubt he would have the same tolerance for dissenting opinions that he expects of the LSU Administration.
If he had demanded conformity from his students or graded conservatives worse, that would have been good cause to fire him.
That policy, uniformly and universally applied, would result in the firing of a substantial percentage of the professoriate.