I previously blogged (here, here, here, and here) about Montana Law Prof Rob Natelson, who successfully challenged his dean’s refusal to allow him to teach Con Law. (Prof. Natelson claimed that the refusal was based solely on his conservative views, as he had published 40% of all the scholarship produced by his school’s faculty.) The local newspaper reports that the Montana law faculty has rejected Prof. Natelson’s request for emeritus status (he retired in May 2010 after serving 23 years on the faculty to take a position with the Independence Institute, a conservative think tank):
“Emeritus status for retirees is pretty routine and almost always given,” Natelson said. “I find the whole thing very peculiar. Even though there’s a history here, this thing seems so petty, so small.”
UM, however, says that retired professors are not entitled to emeritus status. It’s a privilege. Law School Dean Irma Russell says she could not speculate as to why the faculty denied Natelson’s request. “The faculty considered the standards set forth by the policy,” she said. “Each faculty member has to make a judgment and vote their conscience.”
(Hat Tip: ABA Journal.)
Update:
