LSU Law Center Criminal Law Professor Ken Levy
LSU law professor Ken Levy will return to his classroom on Thursday. Levy was suspended after using foul language and criticizing Governor Jeff Landry and President Trump during a lecture last month. Levy’s attorney Jill Craft says a state judge determined the suspension violated his freedom of speech.
“There’s a reason the First Amendment is the first one, and that is because freedom of speech, academic freedom, association, religion, etc. are the most important foundation of this country.”
Governor Landry called the decision is “absurd”, but Craft says divergent opinions are crucial for academia.
“We have classrooms full of law students who are nothing more than sheeple, and their given a book and they say read this book and that’s all you can know. And that’s not what this system of justice is about and that’s not what academia is about.”
Recordings from Levy’s class revealed him using profanity to criticize political figures, but Craft says LSU filed to give a clear explanation for the reason behind the suspension.
“I mean they kept making up reasons as we went along, and that certainly doesn’t comport with due process, and if you’re a tenure professor as is my client, the whole reason tenure exists is to protect academic freedom.”
A complaint from a student is what started the investigation into Levy’s conduct. LSU President William Tate testified it was his decision to suspend Levy.
In a statement on X, Landry said.
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!
A hearing is set for May 19 to further review the case.
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