US law school might be censured over student treatment
September 01, 2008
Concerns about the accreditation of a US law school founded by controversial right-wing politician Pat Robertson have escalated.
The American Bar Association (ABA) - which looks into alleged malpractice and solicitor negligence cases - was contacted by a civil rights lawyer, who said that a student client of his had been mistreated by the Regent School of Law.
Adam Key was suspended from the Virginia Beach school after he posted comments critical of Mr Robertson on an online discussion forum and added an "unflattering" portrait of the politician to his Facebook profile, the Texas Lawyer reports.
Current ABA rules, on which accreditation is granted, state that law schools must not violate the US constitution's first amendment, guaranteeing freedom of speech.
Houston lawyer Randall Kallinen, writing on behalf of Mr Key, told the ABA in a letter that the Regent School violated his client's first amendment rights.
"When Mr. Key refused to conform to Regent's religious and political views, he was suspended and ultimately removed from law school," he claimed.