Lawsuits
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Federal Suspension Case
In November 2025, I sued University of Kentucky officials in federal court to stop their investigation of my speech and to end my suspension from teaching and my ban from the law building (the latter has since been lifted), which the University imposed after I posted my petition for international military action to end Israel to AALS discussion lists. Woodcock v. Capilouto, No. 5:25-cv-00424 (E.D. Ky.).
Filings in this case are collected here.
Sixth Circuit Appeal in Federal Suspension Case
The District Court in the Federal Suspension Case initially abstained. I appealed, and the Sixth Circuit reversed in August 2026 and sent the case back for a ruling on my motion to end the investigation and return to teaching. Woodcock v. Capilouto, No. 26-5057 (6th Cir.).
Filings in this appeal are collected here.
State Suspension Case
Because federal courts cannot hear state-law claims against state officials, I brought my contract, Kentucky Campus Free Speech Protection Act, Kentucky Civil Rights Act, and Kentucky constitutional claims against the investigation and suspension in state court. The case was filed in Fayette Circuit Court in July 2026, transferred to Franklin Circuit Court (Nos. 26-CI-01010 and 26-CI-01017), and consolidated with the state dean case (of which see below).
Filings in this case are collected here.
Federal Dean Case (Voluntarily Dismissed)
In July 2026, I sued to block the University’s appointment of Gregory Van Tatenhove as dean of the law school over the faculty’s objection that he is unqualified. The appointment violates my First Amendment right of expressive association because I joined the faculty in part to send the message that my scholarship is subject to the review of peer scholars. I voluntarily dismissed the case in August 2026 and refiled it in state court. Woodcock v. Van Tatenhove, No. 5:26-cv-00262 (E.D. Ky.).
Filings in this case are collected here.
State Dean Case
My challenge to the dean appointment under the Kentucky Constitution and the University’s contractual commitment to accreditation standards. Franklin Circuit Court No. 26-CI-00885.
Filings in this case are collected here.
The major filings in all cases are provided below.
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State Dean Case Complaint
I refiled the dean case in Franklin Circuit Court. The claims now arise under the Kentucky Constitution and the University’s own rules, which incorporate accreditation standards prohibiting the appointment of a dean over the objection of the faculty without good cause.
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Opinion & Order
After denying a temporary restraining order at a hearing on July 20, the court also denied my requests for expedited discovery and an expedited preliminary-injunction hearing. I respectfully disagree with the court’s analysis. The court: (1) suggested that an informal group like a law faculty may not be an expressive association, although one federal court…
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University’s Rule 43 Notice and My Response
The University filed a notice in the Sixth Circuit about my state and dean suits. I responded and moved to strike the notice.
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State Suspension Case Complaint
Federal courts cannot hear state-law claims against state officials, so I sued in state court as well, challenging my suspension, my ban from the law building, and the investigation of my petition. I bring claims for breach of my employment contract and for violations of the Kentucky Campus Free Speech Protection Act and the Kentucky…
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Supplemental Memorandum in Support of a Temporary Restraining Order
The court asked whether a temporary restraining order was still needed once the July 15 start date had passed. I explained that Van Tatenhove’s start had been postponed to July 20 and that the harm is ongoing. As long as the faculty are led by a dean they have judged a non-peer, the message I…
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Dean Lawsuit Complaint
I sued to block the appointment of former federal judge Gregory Van Tatenhove as dean of the law school. The faculty had rejected him as unacceptable because he has no record of scholarship. Imposing a dean the faculty consider unqualified to judge their work deprives us of our ability to claim that our work is…
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Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction
I asked the court to stop Van Tatenhove from taking office on July 15 and to place the powers of the dean in the hands of the faculty’s elected Executive Committee until the University appoints a dean the faculty approves.
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Response to Motion of Brandeis Center to File Amicus Brief
Brandeis Center is one of the principal architects of the Palestine exception to free speech on campus. Its founder and CEO once declared that losing antisemitism cases is still a win for him because “[t]hese cases – even when rejected – expose administrators to bad publicity.” Here is my response opposing Brandeis Center’s filing of…
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Reply Brief
Here is my reply, which points out that the University and the Kentucky Attorney General didn’t respond to one of my arguments and didn’t meaningfully argue two others. They primarily contested matters relating to application of the First Amendment—making arguments that, if accepted, would all but eliminate faculty freedom of speech.