A University of Kentucky law professor is suing the university, arguing that the school illegally punished him for political speech. Professor Woodcock, a tenured antitrust scholar recently promoted to full professor, has been barred from teaching, advising students, and entering the law school after making critical statements about Israel.

The university says it “reassigned” Professor Woodcock while it investigates whether his statements violate anti discrimination rules and threaten campus safety. Its inquiry relies in part on the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism, which critics argue conflates political criticism of Israel with bias against Jewish people. Woodcock’s lawsuit directly challenges the constitutionality of using the IHRA definition in a public university setting and the reach of Title VI in regulating speech about foreign governments.

The case is emerging as a major test of academic freedom in an era when universities are under increasing pressure to investigate faculty for statements about Israel and Palestine. Woodcock, represented by the Council on American Islamic Relations, contends that s speech would be unremarkable if directed at any other nation. The investigation was prompted by complaints from individuals outside the university and is being led by a lawyer who previously contributed to the conservative Project 2025 blueprint. For additional coverage see https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/11/17/ky-professor-reassigned-after-call-war-israel-sues.