When partisanship clouds judgment: In defense of UK’s choice for law school dean | Opinion

Open my closet and you’ll find, much to my wife’s dismay, an extensive collection of hats. Each one holds significance. There’s my lucky fishing cap. A hat commemorating my time on “Survivor.” Several celebrating my beloved Cincinnati Reds. And naturally, what rural Kentuckian doesn’t own at least a couple of UK hats?

These hats are more than accessories. They represent the multifaceted nature of my identity. Each one stands for a different dimension of my life, and like most people, I’m defined by the totality of these roles rather than any single aspect. I’m a husband, father, and son. I’m a Christian, an attorney, and a legislator. I’m also a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky.

While I embody all these identities simultaneously, I’ve learned the importance of knowing which role takes precedence in any given context. Most reasonable people understand do the same.

That’s precisely why I found Gov. Andy Beshear’s recent social media statement so troubling. The governor publicly declared he was “losing confidence” in the University of Kentucky. That’s an extraordinary statement for any chief executive to make about his state’s flagship institution of higher education. What provoked such a dramatic rebuke? The answer lies in UK’s recent selection of a new dean for its College of Law.

Last month, the university announced U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove would assume leadership of the law school. While I don’t know Judge Van Tatenhove personally, I immediately recognized the appointment as inspired. The fundamental mission of legal education is to prepare aspiring attorneys for the actual practice of law. Having a distinguished federal jurist at the helm, someone who has spent decades applying the law in the real world, seems an ideal approach.

This is particularly true in a field often dominated by academics whose courtroom experience may be limited or nonexistent. Yet Gov. Beshear apparently disagrees, choosing instead to focus his criticism on matters of partisanship.

Judge Van Tatenhove’s credentials are impressive by any objective measure. His career began at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he gained invaluable experience. He subsequently served on the staff of Sen. Mitch McConnell before becoming chief of staff to Rep. Ron Lewis, roles that provided him with deep insight into the legislative process and policy development.

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Four years later, President Bush nominated him to the U.S. District Court, and the Senate confirmed him in a bipartisan vote, a testament to his qualifications and temperament.

For the past 21 years, Judge Van Tatenhove has served with distinction on the federal bench, presiding over countless cases involving constitutional law, criminal procedure, civil rights, and complex litigation. Since 2017, he has also taught as an adjunct professor at UK’s College of Law, his alma mater, sharing his practical expertise with students who will benefit immensely from his real-world perspective.

Yet there’s one additional fact about Judge Van Tatenhove: like me, he’s a Republican. Apparently, that alone is sufficient grounds for the governor to question his appointment.

While most law school deans do emerge from traditional academic backgrounds, I believe UK’s decision to hire a sitting federal judge represents a strategic departure that will strengthen the institution. It’s important to recognize that teaching, while valuable, is only a fraction of a dean’s responsibilities. Robert C. Clark, former dean of Harvard Law School, observed that a law school dean must “be the CEO of a large administrative staff... while being an intellectual, a political leader, and a fundraiser.”

I believe Judge Van Tatenhove’s résumé demonstrates he possesses all these capabilities and arguably brings more diverse, applicable experience than someone who has spent an entire career exclusively in academia. UK’s administrators clearly reached the same conclusion.

The University of Kentucky has an established track record of success with unconventional appointments. I was a student when President Lee Todd led the institution. Dr. Todd came to the presidency with an engineering degree and business background rather than traditional academic administrative experience, yet he’s universally regarded as one of UK’s most transformative leaders, overseeing unprecedented growth in research funding and infrastructure development.

I also wonder what skeptics said in 1930 when UK hired a 29-year-old high school basketball coach with no college experience to lead its program. That gamble on the young Adolph Rupp resulted in four national championships, 876 victories, and the establishment of Kentucky as college basketball royalty. Sometimes the unconventional choice becomes the legendary one.

Judge Van Tatenhove certainly has his own collection of hats. He’s a husband and father. He’s an attorney, a federal judge, and now a law school dean. Yes, he’s also a Republican. But I have complete confidence that he understands when it’s appropriate to wear that partisan hat and when professional duty requires setting it aside. His two decades of impartial service on the federal bench, where he’s been entrusted with protecting constitutional rights and administering justice without regard to political affiliation, proves this beyond doubt.

Gov. Beshear would be well served to learn this same lesson. Questioning the integrity of Kentucky’s flagship university over a personnel decision rooted in qualifications rather than politics diminishes both his office and the institution. Judge Van Tatenhove deserves the opportunity to lead based on his merits, and UK deserves a governor who trusts its judgment rather than second guessing it through a partisan lens.

State Representative Nick Wilson represents Kentucky’s 82nd District and is an alumnus of the University of Kentucky.