No. 25-6802

Emir James Phillips v. Board of Curators of Lincoln University, fka Lincoln University, et al.

Lower Court: Eighth Circuit
Docketed: 2026-02-13
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: None
Latest Conference: 2026-04-17
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Compelled alteration I nullification of academic-dishonesty grades.
Whether compelled alteration or administrative nullification of a professor 's final
academic-dishonesty grade is speech "related to scholarship or teaching " that falls
outside Garcetti's "official duties " rule and is therefore subject to Pickering v. Bd.
of Educ., 391 U.S. 563 (1968), and Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138 (1983)
balancing —and to this Court 's compelled-speech limits when the professor 's
endorsement is required.

2. State-created entitlements and "follow-your-own-rules. "
Whether public-university policies and handbooks that expressly delegate final
academic-dishonesty grading to faculty create a state-law entitlement the
institution must honor under Roth, Sindermann, and the Accardi "follow-your-
own-rules " principle, thereby requiring Ato/?ews-calibrated process before an
administrator may nullify a professor 's final dishonesty grade.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Question not identified.

Docket Entries

2026-03-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2026.
2026-03-10
Waiver of right of respondents Board of Curators of Lincoln University, Dr. Stevie Lawrence, Dr. Cornelius Brownlee and Dr. DeNeia Thomas to respond filed.
2025-12-08
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 16, 2026)

Attorneys

Board of Curators of Lincoln University, Dr. Stevie Lawrence, Dr. Cornelius Brownlee and Dr. DeNeia Thomas
Cathleen A. MartinNewman, Comley & Ruth P.C., Respondent
Emir Phillips
Emir James Phillips — Petitioner