Judge blasts University of Florida lawyer in row over evidence; promises order in 10 days [View all]

Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune

'Are you saying you are just incompetent?' Judge Mark Walker asked

A federal judge in Tallahassee Friday blasted a lawyer for the University of Florida for bringing up "new" information in a closely watched lawsuit over free speech and academic freedom.

It was the second hearing in two weeks on the lawsuit, originally filed by three UF political science professors denied permission by the school to give expert testimony against the state’s year-old elections law because it put UF at odds with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature, who decide on the public university's budget each year.

Christopher Bartolomucci, a Washington, D.C. lawyer for UF, said he and his team discovered just two days ago that the professors had actually prepared their testimony before requesting permission to testify.

“We now know they were actively working before they submitted their request,” Bartolomucci said in the online proceeding. “These facts are found nowhere in complaints. They have misled counsel, the employer and this court. … They have unclean hands, and shouldn’t enjoy relief.”

Read more: https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/state/2022/01/14/federal-judge-promises-ruling-10-days-uf-academic-freedom-case/6524623001/