Who is UK professor being investigated for a petition calling for war on Israel?
The University of Kentucky professor who was removed from teaching after circulating an online petition calling for war on Israel is an Ivy League graduate who has worked for multiple law firms around the country.
UK announced the removal and investigation of a professor on Friday for circulating an online petition calling for war on Israel — identified by the Herald-Leader as law professor Ramsi Woodcock. Woodcock also referenced his suspension from the university on X, formerly Twitter, in recent days.
Woodcock runs a website called the “Antizionist Legal Studies Movement.” It includes a petition demanding “every country in the world make war on Israel immediately until such time as Israel has submitted permanently and unconditionally to the government of Palestine,” according to the website.
Woodcock also shares his pro-Palestinian views on an online blog. In an entry from March 2024, Woodcock identified himself as an associate professor for UK’s law school and said his postings are “not those of any university or organization.” His X biography also states “views my own.”
Woodcock’s statements and calls to action “can be interpreted as antisemitic in accordance with state and federal guidance,” President Eli Capilouto said.
A review by outside legal counsel has been initiated by UK, and the university has requested “accelerated findings” from the review, Capilouto said in a statement Friday. UK didn’t identify Woodcock in its statement, but Woodcock identifies himself as a UK law professor on the website.
Who is Ramsi Woodcock?
Woodcock is a law professor who specializes in antitrust law, according to his online biography. He teaches four courses at UK, including Law 930 Antitrust Law and three other 800-level law classes.
Before teaching at UK, Woodcock was an assistant professor of legal studies in the Department of Risk Management and Insurance in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, according to his biography. He previously worked for multiple corporate law firms, including the Washington D.C. office of WilmerHale and the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton.
Woodcock also worked as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Ambro of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, according to his biography.
Woodcock earned his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also graduated summa cum laude from Yale College with a degree in philosophy, according to his biography.
Woodcock has published multiple scholarly articles, most notably his Yale Law Journal article titled, “The Obsolescence of Advertising in the Information Age.” The article highlights how advertising has become obsolete amid the growth and interest of free information from online reviews.
Woodcock has presented his research at several academic gatherings, including the Yale/Stanford/Harvard Junior Faculty Forum and American Law and Economics Association meetings.
Woodcock’s biography says he believes in redistributing wealth without harming economic efficiency, a concept known as inframarginalism.
Woodcock also has an active, verified X account. In one particular post, Woodcock said every country in the world, “has a moral duty to make war on Israel and end this travesty.”
In reply to another post on X referencing his suspension from UK, Woodcock said “Zionists are frustrated that their intimidation campaign hasn’t shut me up.”
“Every country in the world has a moral duty to make war on Israel and end this travesty,” Woodcock wrote.
