"In contrast to the media frenzy over Tracy’s research on the Newtown incident, in which he was viciously attacked in op-eds, letters to the editor, and news st...ories in print and on television, there is a conspicuous silence now that the case will proceed to trial. A legal victory for Professor Tracy would set a major precedent for free speech and academic freedom jurisprudence, and would decisively bolster safeguards for university employees—and indeed all employees—to comment freely on matters of public importance without fear of losing their jobs... Should Tracy lose his case, the outcome would be disastrous for free speech rights. A decision favoring FAU’s defense could be used by almost any employer, academic or otherwise, to further unconstitutionally monitor and restrict employee expression."

CASE UPDATE: A federal district court has granted former Florida Atlantic University Professor James Tracy permission to amend his civil rights lawsuit.

Profess...or Tracy’s Amended Complaint removes twelve (12) individual defendants named in the original Complaint, all trustees or former trustees of the Defendant University’s Board of Trustees, who were originally believed to have voted to terminate Tracy’s federally protected tenured employment. The Florida Civil Rights Coalition has since learned based on information provided by counsel for Florida Atlantic University, that no such vote ever occurred.