A federal judge paused a lawsuit by a University of Kentucky law professor seeking reinstatement after the university removed him from teaching over an online petition calling for military action against Israel. Judge Danny C. Reeves said the court will abstain while the university’s internal investigation and any disciplinary processes proceed, keeping the professor out of classrooms and the law building for now. The professor, Ramsi Woodcock, had urged legal scholars to sign a petition calling for war to end Israel’s existence as a state; UK administrators cited allegations of conduct that could harm the educational environment. Woodcock has suggested he may appeal and has accused the university of suppressing speech. The ruling highlights the tension between campus free‑speech claims and universities’ obligation to protect the educational environment. Legal teams and academic leaders should note that courts may defer to institutional investigative processes where campus discipline is intertwined with safety and learning concerns.