Baton Rouge, La. – A judge ordered the Louisian State University to completely restore a professor who was withdrawn from his teaching duties last month after he used a vulgar language to criticize Governor Jeff Landry and President Donald Trump during a conference.
The ruling, which allows the law professor Ken Levy to return to his classroom this week, was issued after the conclusion of Tuesday’s hearing on a demand tax filed against the university. During two days of testimony, law students and another teacher talked about the extraction of Levy “that Levy” had about them and exacerbated fears about speaking freely in the classroom.
“They were all vulnerable if I lost this,” Levy said outside the Baton Rouge Justice Palace on Tuesday night, specifically talking about other members and students of the University Faculty. “Then my victory is his victory.”
The legal battle is derived from an anonymous complaint of students related to what the professor said the first day of a criminal justice course in January.
A transcription of a recording taken in the class, shared in the Court and published by The defenderHe showed that Levy said “F (Asterisk) (Asterisk) (Asterisk) to the governor,” as he told the students that he could put them in jail if they broke their policy without remembrance. Levy said the comments were made in a “joked way” and several students who also testified as humor.
In addition, Levy, who told the students that he was a Democrat, used the improper to talk about Trump, referring to the November presidential elections and saying: “I could not believe that F (Asterisk) (Asterisk) (Asterisk) (Asterisk) (Asterisk) R will win.
In a few days, the University Administration informed Levy that he had been relieved of his teaching responsibilities “awaiting investigation into the complaints of students of inappropriate statements made in his class,” according to Levy’s demand.
Levy’s lawyer Jill Craft said that Professor’s elimination violated his academic freedom and lacked his right to due process. Jimmy Faircloth, Jr., a lawyer who represents the university, argued that the initial findings showed that Levy had created an environment in the classroom that could be degrading for some students, specifically those who do not share the same political views as the teacher. Faircloth also said that the demand was premature, since Levy was only eliminated from his classroom, but he was still paid and allowed to be on the campus, as a complete investigation continued.
In his ruling from the bank on Tuesday night, the 19th Judicial District Judge Tarvald Smith said that he saw no problem with the vulgarity of Levy under the context presented and that the negative comments about politicians are “a way of life” .
In addition, Smith said that he hopes that the State funded by the State allows teachers to “invite rigorous debate and dialogue” to prepare law students who go to a professional field where they will face opposite opinions every day.
“Your client should return to the business of training lawyers and let teachers teach,” Smith told Faircloth.
Throughout the audience, a repeatedly mentioned name was Governor Landry, Republican and Allied with Trump. Since he assumed the position last year, Landry has made national news For its wide conservative agenda, which includes a law that requires the ten commandments be published in each public classroomto Texas style immigration measureexpansion of Methods of execution of the death row and a measure that classifies abortion pills as hazardous controlled substances.
Last November, Landry in public He called the State University of Louisiana to discipline another law professor, Nicholas Bryner, who during a conference criticized Trump and the students who voted for him. Bryner remains used by school. Levy cited that particular situation as a reason for his policy without class recording.
In the case of Levy, Landry also turned to X, saying that the teacher’s behavior “should not be tolerated.” Levy testified that he received death threats after the governor’s post.
Landry’s office did not respond to a comment email on Tuesday.
While some residents, the students and Levy’s lawyer have questioned him if the governor played any role in the teacher’s elimination, Faircloth said it is “a conspirador narrative” and “there was no political motivation.”
The president of the University, William Tate IV, testified on Tuesday that it was only his decision to eliminate Levy, and added that “he never spoke with the governor about this matter.” Tate said he checked a transcription of what Levy said and felt that “totality was in the line of what he would expect to see in a classroom.”
Others continue to have concerns that their conferences can be examined, especially if they oppose the opinions of a chosen official seated. Among the people with restlessness is Professor Patrick Martin IV, who teaches jurisprudence and says that the new requirement of the ten commandments of Louisiana can discuss.
“Is it possible that they suspend me?” Martin asked in the Court. “That is a real fear.”
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