Thursday, May 27, 2021

Florida State Settles With Catholic Student Who Was Removed As Student Senate Head

As previously reported, last October a student court at the University of Florida concluded that the University's Student Senate violated the 1st Amendment when it removed Jack Denton, a Catholic student, from the Senate presidency. Student Senate took the action because Denton criticized Black Lives Matter, the ACLU and Reclaim the Block, saying they take views opposed to Catholic teachings. Now, the University has entered a settlement agreement (full text) with Denton under which the University has agreed to pay Denton $10,000 in damages and $1050 in back pay that he would have earned if he had remained Senate president. It will also pay Denton's attorney fees of $83,950. ADF, which represented Denton, issued a press release announcing the settlement.