Josephson v. Ganzel

University of Louisville officials demoted, harassed, and effectively fired a distinguished professor who successfully led the university’s child psychiatry program after he expressed his views on treatment approaches for youth experiencing gender dysphoria. Dr. Allan M. Josephson’s remarks in a panel discussion angered a few of his colleagues, who then learned he had served as an expert witness addressing similar issues. They then demanded that the university take disciplinary action, and university officials responded by demoting him weeks later to the role of a junior faculty member. The university later announced that it would not renew his contract, a highly unusual decision that meant he was effectively fired.

Case Timeline

• October 2017: Dr. Josephson participated in a panel discussion on gender dysphoria, speaking in his personal capacity.
• November 2017: The University of Louisville demoted Dr. Josephson.
• February 2019: The university informed Dr. Josephson that it would not renew his contract.
• March 2019: ADF attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against University of Louisville officials on behalf of Dr. Josephson.
• November 2022: ADF attorneys participated in oral argument in the case at a federal district court.
• March 2023: The district court ruled that Dr. Josephson was entitled to present his case to a jury of his peers, a decision the university then appealed.
• September 2024: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled in favor of Dr. Josephson, sending the case back to the district court for trial and rejecting the university officials’ claims for immunity.
• April 2025: University of Louisville officials agreed to pay almost $1.6 million in damages and attorneys’ fees to settle the lawsuit.