Identity of Speakers
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Dr. Lars Jensen
Faculty/Staff
OtherTenured math professor at Truckee Meadows Community College
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Lawsuit
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University investigation issuing in sanctions
Faculty sanctioned
Litigation
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
In litigation Federal Court of Appeals
Appealed
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In March 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Professor Lars Jensen, affirming that his First Amendment rights were violated when Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) retaliated against him for criticizing the institution’s decision to lower math standards.
The case began when the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada dismissed Jensen’s lawsuit, ruling that his speech was not protected because it was made pursuant to his official duties as a public employee. The district court also granted qualified immunity to the college administrators, shielding them from liability.
On appeal, the Ninth Circuit reversed this dismissal and remanded the case back to the district court, holding that Jensen’s speech addressed a matter of public concern and was therefore protected under the First Amendment. The court found that Jensen was speaking as a private citizen, not as part of his official duties. It also ruled that the administrators were not entitled to qualified immunity.
