It appears that the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning is doing just that. Made up of political appointees, the Board of Governors of the IHL is, the constitutional governing body responsible for policy and financial oversight of the eight public institutions of higher learning. Put more plainly, the IHL is the state government agency that regulates our public universities. Recently, the IHL decided to use its regulatory power to change the rules ..read more

So what can we do in the face of this assault on free speech and academic freedom? If you are a concerned citizen, contact your state legislators and the IHL to respectfully voice your opposition to these new rules. Politicians like those at the IHL should respond to outcry from the people they serve. If you are an academic, be aware of these new policies and understand the risks you face for speaking out until these rules are repealed. Be prepared to organize in groups, like joining . And, if you feel like your rights are under threat from these unconstitutional rules, contact an attorney to ..read more

To protect academic freedom, colleges and universities have established a job protection known as tenure. As defined by the a tenured appointment is an indefinite appointment that can be terminated only for cause or under extraordinary circumstances such as financial exigency and program discontinuation. Designed to be carefully granted to deserving and experienced faculty members, tenure is a tool that schools can use to attract and retain quality scholars. Tenure is also essential to ensure that scholars can speak their minds about issues of public concern. Tenure protects faculty members fr ..read more

requires a religious exemption for any vaccine mandate. The relevant language in the statute is short and simple, stating An employee of any public or private employer who has a sincerely held religious objection to receiving a vaccine for COVID-19 shall not be required to receive a vaccine for COVID-19. This is likely broader than the religious exemption in Indiana because it does not incorporate Title VII's limitations, it does not consider the burden on the employer, and it does not include a ..read more

creates a new statory provision, IC 22-5-4.6, which makes significant changes in what is allowed in an employer vaccine mandate. Though it allows mandates, it requires exemptions - the most important one being the exemption for those who have natural immunity from a prior covid infection ..read more

It is May 6, 2022, and high time for an update on the law of employer-imposed covid vaccine mandates. There have been some changes since I last addressed this issue in August 2021. As predicted, the courts have proven hostile to employee challenges to private employer mandates. Medical exemptions have been restricted to a very small list of conditions. Concerning religious exemptions, although they are enshrined in federal law, the de minimis burden and rational basis tests are still in place, which limits their practical value for employees ..read more

I am honored to have been nominated by my peers to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the Mississippi Bar . The Bar helps maintain a collegial and professional relationship among attorneys, and provides continuing legal education to the profession ..read more