UCLA Free Speech Controversy: Judge Ho Warns of Legal Education Crisis

Last week, the Los Angeles Chapter of the Federalist Society hosted a panel discussion at UCLA Law School on free speech. The event featured Professor Eugene Volokh (formerly of UCLA), Professor Jon Michaels (UCLA), and Yitzy Frankel (a UCLA student), with Judge Jim Ho moderating the discussion.

During his introduction, Judge Ho delivered remarks that were later covered by Bloomberg. He has now shared his full comments, offering a stark warning about the state of legal education and its broader implications.

Judge Ho’s Warning: A Crisis in Legal Education

Judge Ho opened with a sobering assessment of recent campus disruptions, including the incident at UCLA Law School:

"The recent incident at UCLA Law School should alarm every lawyer, every judge, every citizen who cares about the future—and the future leadership—of our country."

He emphasized that this is not an isolated event but part of a nationwide pattern of campus disruptions:

"This is just the latest in a string of incidents on campuses across the country. And it reveals what has been kept hidden for too long from the American people."

Law Schools as "Incubators of Intolerance"

Judge Ho criticized law schools for failing to teach students how to engage in civil discourse, stating:

"Too many law schools have stopped teaching students how to be good citizens—let alone good lawyers. Too many institutions of legal education have become incubators of intolerance."

He expressed deep concern about the long-term impact on American society:

"What happens on campus doesn’t stay on campus. Students are learning all the wrong lessons. They’re bringing those lessons to workplaces and communities all across America. And it’s tearing our country apart."

Systemic Discrimination in Legal Education

Judge Ho highlighted a 2019 incident at Yale Law School, where students disrupted an event intended to promote free speech because the speaker was a prominent Evangelical Christian lawyer. He framed disruption as a symptom of a deeper problem:

"The problem is discrimination. Discrimination against conservatives. Against Christians. Against Jews. Against anyone disdained by cultural elites."

UCLA’s Double Standard: Targeting Free Speech Defenders

Judge Ho contrasted the lack of consequences for disruptive students with UCLA’s threats against the Federalist Society (FedSoc) chapter. Earlier this month, UCLA suggested the chapter could face liability if they named the protesters who disrupted a public event. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) intervened, noting that schools cannot impose liability for sharing truthful information. UCLA subsequently backed off its position.

Judge Ho’s remarks underscore a troubling trend: institutions that claim to support free speech often punish those who defend it while ignoring disruptive behavior.