Ad: BlueJ Better Tax Answers. -Accomplish hours of research in seconds -Instantly draft high-quality communications -Verify answers using a library of trusted tax content. Learn more

District Judge Dismisses Conservative Faculty Candidate’s Motion for New Trial in Bias Suit Against Iowa Law School

Wagner 2Following up on my previous posts (links below) about Teresa Wagner's federal lawsuit claiming she was denied a faculty position because of her conservative views:  Des Moines Register: No New Trial for Conservative U of I Worker:

A conservative Republican who sued the University of Iowa, saying the
school denied her promotion multiple times because of her political
orientation, lost her appeal Friday for a new trial.

Teresa Wagner, 48, was at the center of the high-profile trial in federal court in Davenport last year.

Wagner
argued that she was denied a promotion at the U of I law school’s
writing center because of her conservative history, including work with
the Family Research Council, which opposes same-sex marriage, and the
National Right to Life Committee, which opposes abortion.

Her legal team presented testimony and evidence at trial claiming she
was far more qualified than other applicants given jobs that she applied
for beginning in late 2006. University officials, however, said she
failed to grasp the concept of a writing instructor’s position and
failed a key interview.

A 12-person federal jury decided the law school was not guilty of
political discrimination, which was the highest-profile allegation in
the case. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict as to whether
the school had violated Wagner’s equal protection rights, leading to a
mistrial on that count. A third count, alleging a violation of Wagner’s
due process rights, was dismissed prior to being considered by the jury. …

[The federal district judge] on Friday issued a 43-page ruling rejecting Wagner’s arguments and
denying a new trial. He also granted the law school defendants’ motion
to dismiss the count that the school had violated Wagner’s equal
protection rights.

Press and blogosphere coverage:

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:


About the Author

Ad: BlueJ Better Tax Answers. Blue J's generative AI tax research solution is transforming how tax experts work. Learn more.
Information and rates on advertising on TaxProf Blog

Discover more from TaxProf Blog

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading