Latest news with #KenLevy
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LSU professor's free speech suit rejected by state's highest court
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Supreme Court will not hear the case of an LSU professor suspended after making political comments in class. Ken Levy filed a lawsuit against the LSU Board of Supervisors in January, arguing that his suspension from teaching violated his free speech, academic freedom and due process rights. A lower court ruled he could return to the classroom, but an appeals court reversed it. On Tuesday, the state's highest court formally denied Levy's request to review his case. Chief Justice Weimer would have allowed the case to move forward, but the majority did not agree, according to court documents. Justice Hughes agreed with the decision to deny the appeal but added an opinion. He said the classroom is not a place for obscenities and compared it to a public square, where people can choose to listen or walk away, unlike students who are a 'captive audience.' 'It's a disappointing decision, but I plan to keep fighting for my First Amendment rights, academic freedom, and due process,' Levy said in a statement to Louisiana First News. Speaker Mike Johnson backs tax cut bill; advocates warn of Medicaid impact Funeral arrangements set for oldest Louisiana World War II veteran Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson suspends re-election campaign LSU professor's free speech suit rejected by state's highest court Proposed tax hike on online sports betting lowered in House First tropical wave appears ahead of hurricane season. Here's what to know Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LSU law professor blocked from teaching again as appeals court grants stay
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — LSU law professor Ken Levy has once again been blocked from returning to the classroom after a Louisiana appeals court issued a stay on a lower court's order that had allowed him to resume teaching. On Tuesday, the First Circuit Court of Appeal granted LSU's request to put a hold on the district court's injunction, which had mandated Levy's reinstatement. The appellate ruling means that Levy cannot teach at LSU while legal proceedings continue. Levy, a tenured professor at LSU Law, was suspended on Jan. 16 after a student recorded him making negative remarks about Gov. Jeff Landry and President Donald Trump during a classroom discussion. Levy later sued LSU, arguing his free speech and due process rights were violated. A district judge had ruled in Levy's favor earlier this month, issuing an injunction that ordered LSU to reinstate him. However, the First Circuit's new ruling pauses that injunction, preventing him from returning to class for now. The court also issued an interim order, directing the involved parties to submit additional legal documents by Feb. 17, signaling that the case remains far from resolved. LSU professor researching new cancer treatment treating tumors with strep throat bacteria Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the First Circuit's ruling, calling the lower court's order 'clearly improper.' 'I'm glad to see that the Court of Appeal paused this clearly improper order. This matter will proceed now in an ordinary course, and I'm sure Professor Levy will get the process to which he's due,' Murrill wrote on X. Levy's attorney, Jill Craft, argued the latest decision does not fully clarify the professor's status but reaffirmed that the courts found LSU violated his rights. 'The Court very clearly found Professor Levy's rights to due process and under the 1st Amendment were violated by LSU and prohibited LSU from taking any action against Professor Levy which violates his rights, from retaliating against him, or harassing him,' Craft said in a statement sent to Louisiana First News. She added that her team is awaiting clarification from the court on what exactly the ruling means moving forward. The appeals court has ordered LSU to submit additional documents by Feb. 17, meaning further legal proceedings will determine whether Levy's suspension stands. For now, Levy remains barred from teaching at LSU. Modi is meeting with Trump in a visit meant to boost the US-India relationship and avoid tariffs Louisiana crawfish prices go down for Valentine's weekend 'We are talking about the gods of racing': Hélio Castroneves talks going from Indy to Daytona LSU law professor blocked from teaching again as appeals court grants stay NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson returns to racing's grandest stage Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana appellate court blocks LSU law professor from returning to class
The main building of the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, pictured March 20, 2023, in Baton Rouge. (Matthew Perschall/Louisiana Illuminator) A suspended LSU law professor who had been cleared to return to the classroom won't be going back just yet. The state's 1st Circuit Court of Appeal blocked a district judge's order from earlier this week that would have let Ken Levy teach again, the Louisiana attorney general confirmed Thursday. The university removed Ken Levy from his teaching duties for comments about Gov. Jeff Landry that LSU President William Tate said were 'over a line that I would expect to see in a law classroom,' according to the campus leader's testimony in court Tuesday. Transcripts Tate reviewed from Levy's lecture, which a student had recorded, featured the professor's comments about Landry and President Donald Trump that included profanities. Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill have been highly critical of Levy on social media. The professor's attorney, Jill Craft, has said LSU's actions are in violation of her client's First Amendment right to free speech, prompting him to sue the school. Levy also maintains the university violated its own policy for tenured professors. During a hearing in the case Monday, state Judge Tarvald Smith issued an order that directed LSU to end the professor's suspension while its investigation into his alleged conduct took place. The 1st Circuit ruling Thursday overrides Smith's order and places him back on suspension. 'I'm glad to see that the Court of Appeal paused this clearly improper order. This matter will proceed now in an ordinary course, and I'm sure Professor Levy will get the process to which he's due,' Murrill said Thursday in a statement. In his lawsuit, Levy insists that his comments about the Republican governor and president were made in a joking manner in order to emphasize his 'no recording' policy for his classes. 'Disgusting and inexcusable behavior from Ken Levy. Deranged behavior like this has no place in our classrooms!' Landry wrote in one of two social media posts he made Wednesday regarding the court case. Earlier in the day, the governor, who earned his law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, called the judge's order returning Levy to the classroom 'absurd' and said Smith had ignored 'the facts, the law and the Constitution.' The 1st Circuit panel that rejected Smith's order included Judges Kelly Balfour and Walt Lanier III and Chief Judge Paige McClendon. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana officials react after judge lets suspended LSU professor return to class
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) – Reactions continue to pour in after a judge allowed LSU Law Professor Ken Levy to return to the classroom. This after he was suspended by LSU for negative comments he made about Governor Jeff Landry and President Donald Trump. Ken Levy is breathing a sigh of relief at a Judge's ruling to allow him to continue working. His attorney Jill Craft said LSU President William Tate yanked Levy out of the classroom without following official university guidelines after a student complained and took a video of Levy making negative remarks about Trump and Landry in class. 'They were incompetent, they were callous, they knowingly violated my rights,' said Levy. 'I teach Tuesdays and Thursdays, so Thursday, I plan to return.' Louisiana lawmakers question LSU president on recruitment, DEI and Title IX Landry shared his reaction on social media after the judge's decision. 'Ruling is absurd! It not only ignores the law and the facts, it disrespects the broad base of Louisiana citizens who are demanding a level of professionalism in our universities. The judge ignored the facts, the law, and the Constitution—but that is what we have come to expect out of the 19th JDC. I am confident that the 1st circuit or the SC will correct this! I am curious as to whether this Judge would allow this professor to act like that in his court room!' Governor Jeff Landry via X Attorney General Liz Murrill released a statement after the ruling. 'For the second time, a judge has flatly defied the law and rulings of higher courts. This is why we have appeal courts. These rulings undermine the management structure of all our higher public education institutions. If the appeal courts don't sort it out, the Legislature should.' Attorney General Liz Murrill Craft said she believes this type of zealous debate is what Levy aimed for while teaching, believing it to be real-world training for students.'I think it's really big,' said Craft. 'The message it sends is academic freedoms and rights of due process are alive and well in the United States.'LSU will reportedly continue investigating the matter. House GOP budget resolution hangs in the balance as hardliners hold out support Louisiana officials react after judge lets suspended LSU professor return to class $5M trash boom gets first real test as storm hits San Diego-Tijuana border region Escobar: Even citizens on edge because of immigration enforcement Johnson leaves door open to full-year funding stopgap Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Appeals court overturns order to reinstate LSU law professor, but case continues
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The First Circuit Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday that Louisiana State University is not required to reinstate law professor Ken Levy following his suspension over political comments made in class. The appellate court granted part of LSU's request to overturn a Jan. 30 temporary restraining order issued by a district judge, which had ordered Levy's reinstatement. The ruling states that the district court's order was improperly issued without a full evidentiary hearing. 'A temporary restraining order, when in mandatory form and commands the doing of something, may not issue without a full evidentiary hearing and should not issue on an ex parte application,' the court wrote in its decision. While the appellate court vacated the portion of the order requiring Levy's immediate reinstatement, it denied LSU's request to dismiss the broader case. A hearing is still scheduled for Feb. 10, where further arguments will be presented. Levy was removed from the classroom on Jan. 16 following student complaints about political remarks made during a discussion on First Amendment issues. He later sued LSU, arguing that his suspension violated his constitutional rights, including free speech, academic freedom, and due process. The case remains ongoing as the legal battle over Levy's suspension continues. Louisiana AG calls for LSU law professor to be disciplined after Trump election comments Bipartisan bill would cap credit card interest rates at 10% White House begins migrant flights to Guantanamo Bay President Donald Trump to attend Super Bowl LIX Michael Jordan's son, Marcus, arrested after allegedly fleeing Florida police: reports Live: Pros breakdown Super Bowl defense, matchups and 'Inner Excellence' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
