Highlights from the first week in the trial of former University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill’s lawsuit against the university. Churchill, who was fired for academic misconduct, is seeking to get his job back.
Monday
In less than a full day, a jury of eight people, two of whom are alternates, was selected to hear the case. It is evenly divided between men and women, who all appear to be in their late 20s to early 30s. During questioning, lawyers focused on whether the jurors could fairly weigh the limits of a person’s First Amendment rights to speak out and questions of academic integrity.
Tuesday
In opening statements, Churchill attorney David Lane said the professor was the victim of a “howling mob” that demanded his firing solely because he had criticized the U.S. and financial-industry workers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. University attorney Patrick O’Rourke tells jurors that they will hear “no evidence, zero” that CU regents or administrators were ever pressured to fire Churchill because of his statements and that the professor was fired for academic misconduct.
Wednesday
Gov. Bill Owens took the stand and said he never pressured or threatened anyone at the university to fire Churchill. “I don’t deal with people in an angry, threatening way,” Owens said, though he acknowledged that he thought the professor would ultimately be fired.
Thursday
Former CU president and U.S. Sen. Hank Brown testified that it is “absurd” to believe there was a conspiracy among university administrators to fire Churchill. Brown recommended to the regents in 2007 that Churchill be fired after an investigation into plagiarism and other academic misconduct.
Friday
Former CU president Betsy Hoffman testified on videotape that she received calls from Owens and former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez after publicity about Churchill’s essay comparing victims of the terrorist attacks to a Nazi war criminal. Beauprez simply asked if she had authority to fire Churchill during a civil phone call. She contradicted Owens’ earlier testimony, recalling that he told her to “fire Ward Churchill tomorrow.” She did not fire Churchill and said she would have resigned if the regents had fired the professor strictly for the contents of his essay.
Compiled from reports by The Denver Post and Daily Camera of Boulder.
