Judge Orders Texas State to Reinstate Robinson

A federal court judge ruled today that Texas State University must reinstate philosopher Idris Robinson, whom the university fired from his assistant professorship over a talk he gave about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Robinson had sued the university in March. A press release from Texas State Employees Union CWA Local 6186 states: U.S. District Court Judge Alan Albright granted a preliminary injunction ordering Texas State University to reinstate Dr. Robinson with pay and university affiliation for one year or until the conclusion of his trial, whichever comes first… According to notes taken during the hearing, Judge Albright stated, “Given that the state really hasn’t made an effort to argue that the speech that the plaintiff gave [wasn’t] in some role or another a motivating factor [in the plaintiff’s firing]—I don’t know that they could, given the fact that he was suspended immediately after the speech and told that it was because he exercised his right to First Amendment—I’m going to order that the university maintain his employment contract for one year or until the case resolves, whichever is sooner.” Robinson was represented by Samantha Harris of Allen Harris PLLC and attorney JT Morris of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The post Judge Orders Texas State to Reinstate Robinson first appeared on Daily Nous.