Leftist College Officials Can Be Sued

For years, leftist college officials have violated the First Amendment rights of professors and students who make statements that the leftists consider “unwoke.” When a professor says something that irritates leftist students or professors, university officials will take action to penalize the offending faculty member. Of course, 99% of the time the university officials are penalizing conservative or moderate faculty members or students.

When the faculty member, who was penalized by the university, sues the university, the university claims it has a qualified immunity that exempts the university from any liability. Fortunately, courts are beginning to deny the universities claims to the exemption. 

National Review recently reported on a case involving the University of Louisville Medical School that highlights the court’s unwillingness to recognize the immunity that many universities have attempted to claim.

Dr. Josephson, a member of the Louisville Medical School faculty, was on a panel that was discussing gender dysphoria in young people. Josephson shared with the panel his opinion that it was not wise to rush gender affirming care with young people because they often make bad decisions. 

This was a prudent view that reflects the reality that gender affirming surgery is often a permanent solution with no ability to undo if the patient changes their mind. Young people often change their minds about issues as they mature.

The leftist faculty and students at the Louisville Medical School reacted with horror when they were made aware of Josephson’s comments.These students and faculty members pressured the school administration to fire Josephson and he was ultimately fired.

Josephson sued the medical school and the administrators. The defendants claimed to have immunity from such lawsuits and thus could not be held liable for any damages for denying his First Amendment rights. 

The federal trial judge and the federal appeals court denied the school’s claim of immunity and remanded the case back for trial. These rulings will force academics to stop folding to leftist students and faculty members who demand that conservative voices be punished for saying something that offends the leftists.

Hopefully, the Orwellian behavior of leftist students and college administrators, who attempt to silence conservative ideas, will be purged from our society. America needs to learn how to listen to all ideas whether we like them or not.