LSU law professor blocked from teaching again as appeals court grants stay

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — LSU law professor Ken Levy has once again been blocked from returning to the classroom after a Louisiana appeals court issued a stay on a lower court’s order that had allowed him to resume teaching.

On Tuesday, the First Circuit Court of Appeal granted LSU’s request to put a hold on the district court’s injunction, which had mandated Levy’s reinstatement. The appellate ruling means that Levy cannot teach at LSU while legal proceedings continue​.

Legal battle over Levy’s suspension

Levy, a tenured professor at LSU Law, was suspended

on Jan. 16 after a student recorded him making negative remarks about Gov. Jeff Landry and President Donald Trump during a classroom discussion. Levy later sued LSU, arguing his free speech and due process rights were violated.

A district judge had ruled in Levy’s favor earlier this month, issuing an injunction that ordered LSU to reinstate him. However, the First Circuit’s new ruling pauses that injunction, preventing him from returning to class for now​.

The court also issued an interim order, directing the involved parties to submit additional legal documents by Feb. 17, signaling that the case remains far from resolved​.

State officials react to appeals court decision

Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the First Circuit’s ruling, calling the lower court’s order “clearly improper.”

“I’m glad to see that the Court of Appeal paused this clearly improper order. This matter will proceed now in an ordinary course, and I’m sure Professor Levy will get the process to which he’s due,” Murrill wrote on X.

Levy’s attorney, Jill Craft, argued the latest decision does not fully clarify the professor’s status but reaffirmed that the courts found LSU violated his rights.

“The Court very clearly found Professor Levy’s rights to due process and under the 1st Amendment were violated by LSU and prohibited LSU from taking any action against Professor Levy which violates his rights, from retaliating against him, or harassing him,” Craft said in a statement sent to Louisiana First News.

She added that her team is awaiting clarification from the court on what exactly the ruling means moving forward​.

What happens next?

The appeals court has ordered LSU to submit additional documents by Feb. 17, meaning further legal proceedings will determine whether Levy’s suspension stands.

For now, Levy remains barred from teaching at LSU.

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