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July 8, 2009

Churchill Denied Bid to Return to University of Colorado
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In Denver, a judge has denied former University of Colorado Professor
Ward Churchill’s bid to return to his old job despite a jury’s finding
he was wrongfully dismissed. Churchill sued the school after he was
fired from a tenured position on charges of research misconduct. But
Churchill maintains that the allegations were a pretext to remove him
for his political beliefs. In April, a jury ruled in Churchill’s favor
and ordered the school to pay his attorney fees. But on Tuesday, Chief
Judge Larry Naves of Denver District Court said university officials are
legally protected from Churchill’s bid to reverse his firing because
they were acting as judicial officers. Churchill says he plans to
appeal. His lawyer, David Lane said: “This is judicial activism in its
worst form… a jury said Ward Churchill’s free speech was violated, and
yet Judge Naves goes on for almost 50 pages, saying in so many words,
‘Too bad.’”



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