In a significant legal development, America First Legal (AFL) and co-counsel have filed a lawsuit against Northwestern University for alleged discrimination against white men in faculty hiring at the university's law school. The complaint also targets the Northwestern University Law Review for discriminatory practices when selecting articles, editors, and members.
The lawsuit alleges that since 2012, under the leadership of Dean Daniel Rodriguez, Northwestern University's law school has implemented a mandate to hire as many non-white and non-male faculty candidates as possible. This discriminatory hiring edict is considered an act of discrimination against white men.
Northwestern University receives federal funding and must follow national civil-rights laws, explicitly disavowing all race and sex preferences when hiring faculty. However, the lawsuit claims that Northwestern's law school has hired faculty candidates from preferred demographics while rejecting white men with superior publication records and more impressive credentials.
The Northwestern University Law Review also engages in race and sex discrimination by giving discriminatory preferences to women, racial minorities, homosexuals, and transgender individuals when selecting its articles, editors, and members. This practice is a violation of federal law prohibiting universities that accept federal funds from discriminating on account of race or sex.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Northwestern accountable for its actions and ensure equality in faculty hiring practices. The case is expected to be the first in a series of legal challenges against universities that refuse to implement colorblind and sex-neutral hiring practices.
Statement from Judd Stone, Partner of Stone Hilton PLLC:
'Race and sex discrimination are illegal even when they are popular. Educational institutions acting under the banner of 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' cannot avoid the consequences of their lawlessness. We will pursue prominent universities and law schools in court until they finally end their odious race- and sex-based discrimination.'
Statement from Jonathan F. Mitchell, lead counsel:
'This is the first of many lawsuits that will be filed against universities that refuse to implement colorblind and sex-neutral faculty-hiring practices. Our client has standing to sue any university we want, and any professor who has incriminating evidence should reach out to us.'
Statement from Gene Hamilton, America First Legal Executive Director:
'Federal law prohibits discriminating against any American citizen on the basis of race or sex—yet the pervasiveness and extent of such discrimination is the worst-kept secret in academia. No one should receive an advantage because of their immutable characteristics, and no one should be disadvantaged. Decisions need to be made based on merit and excellence alone, and we will fight for the rights of all Americans to be free from race and sex discrimination in the United States.'
