Identity of Speakers
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Ramsi Woodcock
Faculty/Staff
OtherTenured Law Professor at the University of Kentucky
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Left wing -
Incident Responses:
Faculty sanctioned
University administration invoked formal speech code in response
Litigation
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
Appealed
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
On July 18, 2025, the University of Kentucky removed law professor Ramsi Woodcock from teaching and banned him from the J. David Rosenberg College of Law building after a petition he posted online circulated widely. The petition, on his website The Antizionist Legal Studies Movement, called for the end of Israel and support for Palestine in the Gaza war. The website also contained essays critical of Israeli government policies. University President Eli Capilouto described the content as hateful and repugnant and cited Title VI concerns.
Woodcock publicly challenged the reassignment on August 19, 2025, arguing it violated his First Amendment rights. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression began representing him. On August 21, 2025, Capilouto issued a campus message condemning the petition and emphasizing respectful discourse and academic responsibility. Woodcock had shared his views on Palestine since February 2024 at conferences and on faculty listservs and testified he spoke as a private citizen and international law scholar, not on behalf of UK. His research, begun in 2022, led him to conclude Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
On November 13, 2025, Woodcock filed a federal lawsuit claiming the university violated his First Amendment and due process rights by removing him from teaching, banning him from campus, and restricting his online speech.
On January 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves denied Woodcock’s request for a preliminary injunction to pause the investigation and allow him to teach during the spring semester. Reeves ruled the university had the right to investigate, that the investigation was not flagrantly unconstitutional, and that Woodcock had not shown irreparable harm. Reeves also denied the university’s motion to dismiss the case and required the parties to provide 30-day status updates on the investigation.
Woodcock continued to share his views online and on his website, which also includes a petition calling for Capilouto’s resignation. Investigators asked him detailed questions about his speech and planned to issue a report on whether his actions violated university policy. The investigation focused on potential use of university resources, listserv posts, panel comments, and alleged antisemitic speech. Complaints were unrelated to his teaching or student interactions. Woodcock has continued to be paid and maintain access to research and email. Interim Dean James Duff said the removal followed protocol and was for student safety.
On January 14, 2026, Woodcock filed an appeal with the Sixth Circuit asking to reverse Reeves’ order and allow him to teach while the appeal is pending. His attorney argued that denial caused ongoing constitutional harm. University spokesperson Jay Blanton said the school appreciated the ruling and that the investigation remained ongoing.
