U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves denies suspended University of Kentucky professor Ramsi Woodcock’s request to return to the classroom for the upcoming spring semester.
According to the district court order, Reeves denied Woodcock’s request to pause UK’s investigation Jan. 8, instead granting a motion from UK to put lawsuit proceedings on hold while the university continues its investigation into alleged antisemitic conduct by Woodcock.
In July, UK President Eli Capilouto sent a campus-wide email addressing the investigation, saying a university employee had written and circulated an online petition calling for international military action against Israel.
The Kentucky Jewish Council first identified Woodcock as the professor mentioned in the email. Capilouto wrote in the email that the petition “can be interpreted as antisemitic in accordance with state and federal guidance.”
The Kernel previously reported that Woodcock stated his views on Israel do not reflect his feelings toward the Jewish community, saying it is “possible to be critical of Israel and not be a critic of Judaism and Jewish people.”
In response to being removed from classroom responsibilities, Woodcock filed a federal lawsuit against UK in November alleging his First Amendment right to free expression and UK’s regulations were violated, the Kernel reported.
The lawsuit asked that UK administrators be ordered to reinstate Woodcock to his teaching position and end the investigation into his statements.
Woodcock argued his speech on Palestine and Israel was protected, and UK’s investigation was unconstitutional, along with claiming that the university is causing harm to his teaching skills and ability to conduct research by removing him from the classroom and the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, according to court documents.
Reeves wrote in his ruling that Woodcock’s argument was illegitimate, and “circumstances exist in which the university can lawfully restrict the speech of its employees.”
Reeves also denied UK’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Both UK and Woodcock are now required to update Reeves on the status of the investigation every 30 days.
