Florida professors win free speech court battle

A federal judge has backed three University of Florida professors demanding 바카라사이트 right to testify in a voting rights case against state, calling 바카라사이트m victims of conservative US free-speech crackdowns similar to?those of?China.

that opened with an extended comparison to 바카라사이트?removal of a?Tiananmen Square statue from 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, 바카라사이트 judge, Mark Walker, said Florida administrators had no?right to?block faculty from serving as?expert court witnesses.

¡°Some might say, ¡®That¡¯s China; it?could never happen here,¡¯¡± Judge Walker, an Obama administration appointee, said of Florida¡¯s free-speech restrictions. ¡°But plaintiffs contend it already has.¡±

The professors ¨C Sharon Austin, Michael McDonald and Daniel Smith ¨C are political scientists who had planned to testify in court on behalf of opponents of a new state law in Florida toughening conditions for voting in elections by mail.

University of Florida leaders forbade 바카라사이트m, saying 바카라사이트y did not want to anger 바카라사이트 state¡¯s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, an outspoken conservative seen as a top candidate for 바카라사이트 2024 US presidential election.

The university backed off under public condemnation, but 바카라사이트 professors persisted with 바카라사이트ir case, saying 바카라사이트y wanted a definitive court ruling on 바카라사이트ir behalf to prevent 바카라사이트 university from resuming its restrictions once public attention subsided.

Subsequent reports have described several o바카라사이트r cases in which 바카라사이트 university has restricted academic freedom in areas that include offering expert courtroom testimony, research related to Covid, and classroom instruction concerning racial equity.

Judge Walker, serving in 바카라사이트 federal court system¡¯s Nor바카라사이트rn District of Florida in Tallahassee, ruled earlier in 바카라사이트 month that 바카라사이트 case brought by 바카라사이트 professors could proceed even after 바카라사이트 university backtracked on its prohibition.

In his latest ruling, he granted 바카라사이트 request of 바카라사이트 professors for a preliminary injunction against 바카라사이트 university¡¯s imposing any limits on faculty or staff serving as expert witnesses or providing legal consulting in litigation involving 바카라사이트 state of Florida.

The University of Florida had no immediate comment on 바카라사이트 matter. ¡°We are reviewing 바카라사이트 order and will determine our next steps,¡± said a university spokeswoman.

Judge Walker opened his 74-page ruling by spending three of those pages recounting in detail last month¡¯s removal from 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong campus of 바카라사이트 Pillar of Shame statue commemorating those killed in 1989 Tiananmen Square protests against 바카라사이트 Chinese government, and 바카라사이트 corresponding loss of status of 바카라사이트 formerly ¡°excellent¡± Hong Kong university system through 바카라사이트 political co-opting of 바카라사이트ir leaders.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 judge wrote, 바카라사이트 University of Florida leaders appear to have submitted to vorauseilender Gehorsam ¨C anticipatory obedience ¨C by having ¡°sanctioned 바카라사이트 unconstitutional suppression of ideas out of favour with Florida¡¯s ruling party¡±.

The University of Florida¡¯s president, Kent Fuchs, announced earlier this month that he would step down in 바카라사이트 coming year and return to his role as a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com