U. of Florida Blocks Professors From Testifying on Election Reform Lawsuit

The University of Florida is prohibiting three professors from providing expert testimony in a lawsuit challenging a new election integrity law, saying it goes against the school's interest by conflicting with the administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The university said in a statement Saturday that allowing professors Dan Smith, Michael McDonald, and Sharon Austin to serve as paid experts for plaintiffs challenging the law would be "adverse to the university's interests as a state of Florida institution."

"The University of Florida has a long track record of supporting free speech and our faculty's academic freedom, and we will continue to do so," the statement said.

Lawyers for a coalition of civic groups challenging the law said in court papers Friday that the professors were told by the university their expert testimony would dissent from the administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, creating a conflict for the school.

"UF will deny its employees' requests to engage in outside activities when it determines the activities are adverse to its interests. As UF is a state actor, litigation against the state is adverse to UF's interests," according to an email from an assistant vice president at the university to McDonald that was filed with the court documents.

Another university official said in an email to Smith that "outside activities that may pose a conflict of interest to the executive branch of the State of Florida create a conflict for the University of Florida."

Like universities elsewhere, the University of Florida routinely allows its professors to testify in cases in which they can provide expertise, and Smith has previously testified in voting rights cases in Florida.

Lawyers for the coalition of civic groups are trying to get testimony from the governor about his role in the formation of the new law, but administration attorneys are fighting the attempt.

The new law limits how vote-by-mail drop boxes can be used, requires voters to ask for a vote-by-mail ballot and prohibits non-poll workers from giving food or drink to voters waiting in line.

Two weeks ago, on the day he found out he would not be able to provide testimony, Smith tweeted an image of Hannah Arendt's classic book "The Origins of Totalitarianism."

"Dusting this classic off the bookshelf for some light weekend reading," Smith wrote.