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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Motion in U.S. Court of Appeals for an Injunction Pending Appeal
The District Court having refused to reinstate me pending my appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, I now ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reinstate me pending my appeal.
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The District Court Denies My Motion for an Injunction Pending Appeal
The District Court said it would abstain from considering whether it had made a mistake in abstaining.
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Motion in District Court for an Injunction Pending Appeal
I’m appealing. I motioned to be reinstated while the appeal is pending.
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The District Court’s Denial of My Motion for a Preliminary Injunction
Instead of deciding to put me back in the classroom based on the likelihood of success of my First Amendment and Due Process claims, the District Court chose to abstain from hearing the case for the time being on the ground that a federal court should respect state proceedings when they are akin to judicial…
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My Reply to the University’s Response to the Motion for a Preliminary Injunction
In which I point out that in a recent book the university’s general counsel and defendant in this case acknowledged that academic speech is protected by the First Amendment—a position he is now rejecting in this case.
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University’s Response to Motion for Preliminary Injunction
The university responds to the motion for a preliminary injunction by ignoring precedent that makes clear that academic speech is protected.
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University’s Motion to Dismiss
The University has motioned to dismiss the case. The University’s position is in effect that there is no constitutional protection for academic freedom, contradicting Supreme Court precedent stretching back to the Red Scare.
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Preliminary Injunction Memo
I’m asking for the investigation to be dropped and to be reinstated to teaching during the pendency of the litigation