George Washington U. Rejects Requests to Cease Justice Thomas’s Co-Instructing of Legislation Faculty Class

Pricey Members of the George Washington College Group,

Because the current U.S. Supreme Court docket ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, we’ve got heard from members of our neighborhood who’ve expressed emotions of deep disagreement with this resolution.

We even have obtained requests from some members of the college and exterior communities that the college terminate its employment of Adjunct Professor and Supreme Court docket Justice Clarence Thomas and cancel the Constitutional Legislation Seminar that he teaches on the Legislation Faculty. Lots of the requests cite Justice Thomas’ concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Ladies’s Well being Group, wherein he known as the substantive due course of doctrine a “authorized fiction.” Justice Thomas has been a constant critic of the Court docket’s authorized philosophy on substantive due course of for a few years. As a result of we steadfastly assist the sturdy alternate of concepts and deliberation, and since debate is a vital a part of our college’s educational and academic mission to coach future leaders who’re ready to deal with the world’s most pressing issues, the college will neither terminate Justice Thomas’ employment nor cancel his class in response to his authorized opinions.

Justice Thomas’ views don’t characterize the views of both the George Washington College or its Legislation Faculty. Moreover, like all school members at our college, Justice Thomas has educational freedom and freedom of expression and inquiry. Our college’s educational freedom pointers state: “The concepts of various school members and of assorted different members of the College neighborhood will usually and fairly naturally battle. However it’s not the correct function of the College to aim to defend people inside or exterior the College from concepts and opinions they discover unwelcome, unpleasant, and even deeply offensive.”

Simply as we affirm our dedication to educational freedom, we affirm the correct of all members of our neighborhood to voice their opinions and contribute to the vital discussions which are foundational to our educational mission.