A jury has ruled that Prof. Teresa Wagner's First Amendment rights were not violated when the University of Iowa denied her for two teaching positions. The panel deadlocked on whether she was denied protection under the 14th Amendment.
Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel explains that Wagner is suing the university because she feels she was denied the two open jobs at the law school because of her support for pro-life causes and traditional marriage.
"So for someone who's conservative, or a Republican, or a Christian, it is often a very difficult task to break into college teaching at any level," Staver explains.
Because the jury deadlocked on whether Wagner's 14th Amendment rights were denied, the case may be retried or settled out of court. So the Liberty Counsel founder says it is too early to draw conclusions about this landmark case.
"It certainly is a significant case, and it's one that people in higher education are watching. It is one that everyone knows about. It happens all the time," Staver asserts.
"This one now is becoming more public because of the lawsuit claiming that this individual was discriminated against and not hired because of her Christian, pro-life and conservative views."
Other conservatives who claim they were passed over for jobs because of their conservative views hoped Wagner would prevail, as the evidence did suggest discrimination.