Lawyer: Allegations of racist or sexist statements against Widener Law prof unproven

A Widener University Law School panel formed to investigate allegations that a tenured professor made racist, sexist, and violent statements has found that the accusations were "not proven," the professor's attorney said Thursday.

Lawrence Connell, who has taught at the Wilmington school for 26 years, was accused of using violent hypothetical examples involving his attempting to shoot Linda L. Ammons, dean of the law school, as part of classes on criminal procedure late last year.

He also is accused of making a series of racist and sexist statements. Connell, who has been on paid administrative leave, denies the allegations and claims that Ammons is trying to fire him because of his conservative political views.

Whether the panel's decision means Connell will be reinstated was not immediately clear.

University officials confirmed Thursday that the three-member committee had reached a decision, but declined to comment on it or release the findings because of confidentiality policies regarding personnel matters.

The ruling is the result of a proceeding held from June 6 to 8 at the university, said Thomas Neuberger, Connell's lawyer. The panel consisted of two law professors and an associate vice president of administration, he said.

A previous panel recommended in March that law school administrators drop the effort to fire the professor, but included a provision that the allegations could be reinstated at a later date. The committee gave no reason for its findings.

That committee's recommendation was put on hold so that a new panel - the one that met last month - could evaluate the specific allegations two law students made against Connell.

Connell has said he used Ammons in hypothetical scenarios in which he was a perpetrator who attempted to shoot the dean. Using such "quirky hypotheticals . . . captures students' attention," he said.

He also has filed a lawsuit against Ammons, accusing her of making defamatory statements in the effort to oust him from the school.

Neuberger has petitioned Delaware Superior Court to add the students, Jennifer R. Perez and Nadege Tandoh, to the defamation lawsuit.

Donald Gouge, a lawyer representing Perez and Nadege, declined to comment on the committee's findings.

If Ammons recommends dismissal in light of the committees' findings, another hearing would be held before action is taken.