University of Kentucky Professor Sues Over Alleged Free Speech Violations
A law professor at the University of Kentucky claims he was removed from his teaching position after circulating a petition advocating for military action against Israel. Ramsi Woodcock, a tenured professor at the J. David Rosenberg School of Law, has filed a federal lawsuit, alleging retaliation for his First Amendment rights and other constitutional breaches.
Woodcock submitted the lawsuit on November 13, stating that he faced repercussions for his political expressions, which included a petition he shared online urging immediate conflict against Israel. This petition, associated with the Anti-Zionist Jurisprudence Movement, calls on global nations to act until Israel fully submits to Palestinian authorities.
On his website, Woodcock argues that Israel has perpetrated genocide against Palestinians while contending that Palestinians themselves did not commit any genocide against others. He insists on the need for the international community to intervene and end Israel’s actions.
According to his complaint, Woodcock has shared these sentiments without issue since early 2024, participating in faculty discussions, conferences, and online forums. However, he asserts that this changed after the Kentucky legislature passed Joint Resolution 55 in April 2025, which instructed public universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition to address anti-Semitism.
In his lawsuit, Woodcock claims that following the adoption of this definition, the university’s tolerance for his viewpoints diminished. He suggests this shift coincided with federal government threats to withdraw funding, pressuring administrators to restrict critical speech about Israel.
On July 18, University President Eli Capilouto publicly criticized Woodcock’s comments as “offensive” and not representative of the institution’s stance. That same day, Woodcock was assigned to “100% professional development,” had his classes canceled, and was barred from entering the law building while the university initiated an investigation. This followed feedback received by the Vice-Chancellor regarding Woodcock’s discussions on genocide and the inclusion of a link to his personal website on the law faculty page.
The lawsuit argues that the IHRA definition unfairly targets a wide range of protected speech criticizing Israel as anti-Semitic, which violates Woodcock’s rights under the First Amendment and breaches due process. He is seeking a court ruling deeming Kentucky’s actions unconstitutional, an order to stop using the IHRA definition in disciplinary actions, a halt to the ongoing investigation, and both punitive and compensatory damages.
Defendants listed in the lawsuit include University President Eli Capilouto and other senior officials, as well as Education Secretary Linda McMahon in her official role.
A university spokesperson stated that Woodcock was “reappointed pending the outcome of the investigation” rather than being suspended or fired, framing the action as within institutional standards. They reiterated that while faculty have free speech rights, the university must also ensure the safety of its community under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Woodcock, in a statement, emphasized his view that Israel operates as an apartheid state and is causing immense suffering in Gaza. He voiced intentions to hold the university accountable for perceived constitutional violations.
The U.S. Department of Education has not issued a comment on this matter.
