State Supreme Court overturns Court of Appeals decision in WWU professor lawsuit

The Washington State Supreme Court said Western Washington University did not violate the state constitution in closing a 2006 disciplinary hearing for a professor, reversing an earlier Court of Appeals decision.
The court filed its decision in the case Perry Mills v. Western Washington University on Thursday, Feb. 3.
The case revolves around whether the state constitution requires faculty disciplinary hearings to be open to the public. In 2006, Mills, a tenured theater professor, was suspended for two quarters without pay after a hearing that was closed to the public and press. The disciplinary hearing was prompted by allegations that Mills had made a variety of abusive remarks to students and faculty.