University of Arkansas Withdraws Law Dean Offer After Scholar’s Transgender Brief Draws Criticism

The University of Arkansas on Wednesday withdrew its offer to Emily Suski to serve as dean of its law school after state politicians raised concerns about her signature on a legal brief concerning transgender athletes, lawmakers said. The rescission came less than a week after she was named to the post.

The university said the decision was based on 'feedback from key external stakeholders.' Members of the state legislature said the concerns related to an amicus brief Ms. Suski signed that was filed with the Supreme Court last year and argued this week; the brief, signed with 16 other legal scholars, made a narrowly focused argument about whether sex assigned at birth should be the sole factor in decisions about which sports teams students can compete on and urged that the case be sent back to lower courts.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, through a spokesman, praised the university's decision; an Arkansas state senator, Dan Sullivan, said the views in the brief were inconsistent with Arkansas law. Critics and supporters differed on motives: a Democratic state representative, Nicole Clowney, said legislators and one executive-branch official threatened the university's funding after learning of the brief and described the matter as a free-speech issue.

When the selection was announced on Jan. 9, the university's provost, Indrajeet Chaubey, had praised Ms. Suski's work on medical partnerships to help low-income children.

Key Topics

Politics, Emily Suski, Transgender Athletes, Amicus Brief, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Supreme Court