🌎 Resumen en español · traducción automática
Un profesor de derecho de la Universidad de Kentucky demandó en corte federal para impedir que un juez federal se convierta en decano de la Facultad de Derecho de UK, argumentando que el nombramiento de Gregory Van Tatenhove viola los requisitos de acreditación de la Asociación Estadounidense de Abogados y su contrato laboral. El profesor Ramsi Woodcock señala que los decanos asociados de la facultad consideraron a Van Tatenhove un candidato inaceptable por carecer de calificaciones para obtener permanencia académica, lo que podría poner en riesgo la acreditación de la escuela, una preocupación que también fue expresada por el gobernador demócrata Andy Beshear.
Traducción y resumen generados por IA a partir del artículo en inglés. Puede contener errores; consulte el texto original.
A University of Kentucky law professor has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent a federal judge from becoming the next dean of the UK College of Law.
Professor Ramsi Woodcock filed the lawsuit Monday in the U.S. Eastern Kentucky District Court against the incoming dean, Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, UK President Eli Capilouto, Provost Robert DiPaola and the university.
UK announced Van Tatenhove, who was appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, as the next dean of the college earlier this year, but the choice has been met with criticism.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear blasted UK administration this spring for the choice, saying he was “losing confidence and growing increasingly concerned” with the management of the state’s flagship institution. Associate deans at the law school wrote a February email to DiPaola that faculty felt Van Tatenhove was an “unacceptable” candidate as he lacked “qualifications to be granted tenure,” which could risk the school’s accreditation with the American Bar Association.
The letter and Beshear’s statements are cited in Woodcock’s lawsuit, as well as Kentucky Republicans’ defense of the choice. The lawsuit also asserts that by installing Van Tatenhove as dean and risking accreditation requirements it would violate “the Employee Code and Woodcock’s contract.”
“The Employee Code binds the University to ensure that its employees abide by accreditation requirements,” the lawsuit says. “The ABA accredits the law school. 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.”
DiPaola previously defended the appointment of Van Tatenhove in an April UK Board of Trustees committee meeting, saying Van Tatenhove’s experience would meet the “extraordinary circumstances” under ABA standards.
Among the requests in Woodcock’s lawsuit are the court blocking Van Tatenhove from becoming dean of the law school and preventing UK administrators from appointing or reappointing a dean over the objection of a majority of faculty.
Tuesday afternoon, UK spokesperson Jay Blanton told the Kentucky Lantern Van Tatenhove’s start day is Monday, July 20, and the lawsuit will not affect that.
“Judge Van Tatenhove was selected as Dean of the Rosenberg College of Law following an extensive process that is the same as other dean selections,” Blanton said. “It involved the feedback and engagement of stakeholders, including distinguished Alumni, the College Advisory group, College of Law faculty, staff and students as well University leadership. 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. That is where our focus is and where it will remain. Interestingly, if Professor 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.”
Blanton was seemingly referring to Woodcock’s other federal case against the university, where he is seeking to have his teaching duties restored and end an investigation into his criticism of Israel and support of Palestine. Capilouto shared a public message last summer that did not name Woodcock directly, but indicated the university was aware of his online petition calling for military action against Israel and called his views “if accurately attributed … repugnant.”
U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves denied Woodcock’s request to return to the classroom. Woodcock appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
In the latest lawsuit, Woodcock is represented by Joe Childers, of Lexington, and Kapitan Gomaa Law, of Chicago. Court records list U.S. District Chief Judge David L. Bunning as the presiding judge.
