General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFlorida Bars State Professors From Testifying in Voting Rights Case
Three University of Florida professors have been barred from assisting plaintiffs in a lawsuit to overturn the states new law restricting voting rights, lawyers said in a federal court filing on Friday. The ban is an extraordinary limit on speech that raises questions of academic freedom and First Amendment rights.
University officials told the three that because the school was a state institution, participating in a lawsuit against the state is adverse to U.F.s interests and could not be permitted. In their filing, the lawyers sought to question Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, on whether he was involved in the decision.
Mr. DeSantis has resisted questioning, arguing that all of his communications about the law are protected from disclosure because discussions about legislation are privileged. In their filing on Friday, lawyers for the plaintiffs said the federal questions in the case including whether the law discriminates against minority groups override any state protections.
Two university representatives said they could not comment on pending litigation. Mr. DeSantiss office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/us/florida-professors-voting-rights-lawsuit.html
TeamProg
(5,788 posts)crimes with teens.
Lucky Luciano
(11,242 posts)OrlandoDem2
(2,064 posts)róisín_dubh
(11,784 posts)Im not at UF or in Florida even. But state overreach by unqualified boards of governors and politicians is madness.
Parents of university bound students, do your due diligence. These institutions do not have your kids best interest in mind. Its all about the $.
Deuxcents
(15,777 posts)The governor has become a wanna be Napoleon. Blocking funds to school districts that want to keep children safe by wearing masks. Forbidding this..forbidding that. Our worthless two senators are silent. Where am I?
Skittles
(152,964 posts)they are both performing for the cult
LetMyPeopleVote
(143,999 posts)Link to tweet
by FIRE
October 30, 2021
FIRE is deeply concerned by a report in The New York Times that the University of Florida has barred three professors from participating as witnesses in a voting rights lawsuit against the state of Florida.
FIRE has said it before, and well say it again: The profound civic importance of fair trials requires the ability of fact and expert witnesses to come forward to testify truthfully without fear that their government employer might retaliate against them. Public university faculty are no exception. We call on UF to reverse course immediately.
UF should be aware that Plymouth State Universitys ill-considered decision to punish faculty who had testified in a trial ultimately cost the state of New Hampshires taxpayers $350,000. FIRE warned Plymouth State then, and were warning UF now: If you pick a fight with the First Amendment, you will lose.