Professor Soucek, Ryan Chen '23 Publish Article in Fordham Law Review

Professor Brian Soucek and Ryan Chen ’23 have published an article in the Fordham Law Review titled “Misunderstanding Meriwether.” In the abstract, they write:

“Meriwether v. Hartop is widely seen as one of the most important academic freedom and transgender rights cases of recent years.  Whether praising it as a victory for free speech or condemning it as a threat to educational equality, commentators across the political spectrum have agreed on one thing:  the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit did something big when it held that professors at public universities have a First Amendment right to misgender their students in class.  But contrary to popular belief, Meriwether held no such thing.  In fact, the Sixth Circuit could not have held what nearly everyone believes it did, given the case’s procedural posture. Meriwether has been misunderstood, and this Article aims to put a halt to the false narrative that has emerged around Meriwether before its consequences continue to spread.”

Professor Soucek’s primary teaching and research interests are antidiscrimination law, civil procedure, constitutional law, and refugee/asylum law. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. He has clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Mark R. Kravitz in Connecticut, and Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Professor Soucek is a UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellow.