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CINCINNATI Shawnee State University professor Dr. Nick Meriwethers three-year court battle for his First Amendment rights has concluded with a settlement in his favor.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled in March 2021 that the university violated Meriwethers free speech rights when it punished him because he declined to call a student by their preferred pronouns.

According to court documents, Meriwether offered to use any name the student requested instead of titles and pronouns, but the university rejected that compromise, instead forcing the professor to speak contrary to his religious convictions and philosophical beliefs.

As part of the settlement, the university has agreed that Meriwether has the right to choose when to use, or avoid using, titles or pronouns when referring to or addressing students. The university also agreed Meriwether will never be mandated to use pronouns, including if a student requests pronouns that conflict with his or her biological sex.

This case forced us to defend what used to be a common beliefthat nobody should be forced to contradict their core beliefs just to keep their job, said ADF Senior Counsel Travis Barham. Dr. Meriwether went out of his way to accommodate his students and treat them all with dignity and respect, yet his university punished him because he wouldnt endorse an ideology that he believes is false. Were pleased to see the university recognize that the First Amendment guarantees Dr. Meriwetherand every other Americanthe right to speak and act in a manner consistent with ones faith and convictions.

Public universities should welcome intellectual and ideological diversity, where all students and professors can engage in meaningful discussions without compromising their core beliefs, said ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom. Dr. Meriwether rightly defended his freedom to speak and stay silent, and not conform to the universitys demand for uniformity of thought. We commend the university for ultimately agreeing to do the right thing, in keeping with its reason for existence as a marketplace of ideas.

As part of the settlement in Meriwether v. The Trustees of Shawnee State University, the university agreed to pay $400,000 in damages and Meriwethers attorneys fees. Additionally, considering the 6th Circuits ruling, the university is rescinding the written warning it issued Meriwether in June 2018. In light of the settlement, ADF attorneys filed a voluntary dismissal of the case Thursday.

The Portsmouth Daily Times reached out to Shawnee State University but has not received a comment at this time.

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Meriwether reaches settlement in First Amendment case with university - Portsmouth Daily Times