Suspended Kentucky law professor seeks to block appointment of incoming dean
The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in July 2022. (Photo by LawAnalyzer40526, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
A suspended professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law has filed a federal lawsuit to stop the incoming law school’s dean from taking office.
The Kentucky Lantern reported that Professor Ramsi Woodcock had filed suit with the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky, alleging that incoming dean Gregory Van Tatenhove, a retiring judge with that same federal district, was unqualified and unacceptable to members of the faculty. In his complaint, Woodcock cited Kentucky governor Andy Beshear’s public criticism of Van Tatenhove and the school’s hiring and screening process, as well as emails and statements from school officials questioning his credentials and whether they might jeopardize the school’s accreditation status with the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions.
“ABA rules prohibit the appointment of a dean over the stated objection of the faculty without good cause and further prohibit the appointment of a dean without academic tenure other than in extraordinary circumstances,” the lawsuit stated.
A spokesperson for the school told the Lantern that Van Tatenhove was appointed “following an extensive process that is the same as other dean selections,” adding: “The result is an outstanding new Dean who has been a proven leader and is excited about helping lead a talented group of faculty, staff and students forward.” He stated that Van Tatenhove’s appointment was scheduled to begin on July 20.
The Lantern reported that Woodcock previously filed a lawsuit against the school after his teaching duties were suspended following an investigation into his criticism of Israel and support of Palestinians. U.S. District Court Judge Danny Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky ruled against Woodcock, who then filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The spokesperson added that if Woodcock had “spent his time responding to the serious allegations regarding his conduct in a timely manner, rather than filing frivolous lawsuits without merit, his case would have long since been resolved.”
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