Colorado Supreme Court backs CU in Churchill lawsuit

The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday announced its decision to uphold the actions of lower courts in former professor Ward Churchill’s lawsuit against the University of Colorado, affirming that CU is not obligated to reinstate him, nor to award back pay.

The Supreme Court ruling is posted here.

“The University of Colorado community is pleased that the Colorado Supreme Court unanimously upheld Judge Naves’ rulings entering judgment in CU’s favor,” said CU President Bruce D. Benson. “The court determined that it would be wrong for Ward Churchill to return to a CU classroom because, as several CU faculty panels found, he engaged in repeated, flagrant acts of academic misconduct and dishonesty. Because academic integrity is at the core of the university’s mission, (Monday’s) ruling is a victory for all CU faculty and students.”

Said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano, “(Monday’s) decision by the Colorado Supreme Court upholds the high standards of academic integrity practiced every day by our faculty, and helps us to ensure the quality of instruction for all our students. It is vital that what is published and what is taught in the classroom be based on research and scholarship grounded in honest, accepted and time-tested methods. This was always what was at stake in this case for the university, and the winners today are our faculty and students.”

The decision comes about three months after the court heard oral arguments in Churchill’s lawsuit against CU. The June 7 hearing at the Capitol provided attorneys in the case the opportunity to address the justices, who in turn asked questions. Patrick O’Rourke, university system’s chief legal officer and secretary to the Board of Regents, represented CU; David Lane represented Churchill.

Churchill filed a petition with the Supreme Court after the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld a previous verdict favoring CU, affirming that the university was within its rights in terminating the former professor from his job. The appeal began after District Judge Larry Naves denied Churchill’s request to be reinstated at the university.

Lane today told the Associated Press that he will appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.