Congressional Records Request Withdrawn After Legal Challenge
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce has withdrawn its request for documents from two legal clinics at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law. The decision came Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after Professors Sheila Bedi and Lynn Cohn filed a lawsuit challenging the committee’s demands. The withdrawal was announced during an emergency court hearing by House General Counsel Matthew Berry.
The committee’s original request, made in a March 27 letter signed by Republican Reps. Tim Walberg of Michigan and Burgess Owens of Utah, had sought documents related to the university’s legal clinics, including hiring practices and performance reviews of Professor Bedi. The letter framed the inquiry as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitism on campus, accusing the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic of engaging in “progressive-left political advocacy.”
House Committee Professors Cite Constitutional Rights in Lawsuit
In their lawsuit, Professors Bedi and Cohn argued that the committee’s request was a politically motivated violation of multiple constitutional protections, including free speech, due process, and the right to counsel. The complaint also asserted that the investigation was intended to target and intimidate individuals and institutions labeled as politically left-leaning by the committee.
“The effort is part of the federal government’s ongoing attack on academic freedom, legal professionals, and the rule of law,” the complaint stated. It went on to claim that the committee had overstepped its authority and lacked a legitimate legislative purpose in making the demands.
The lawsuit emphasized the broader implications of the request, framing it as an infringement on academic independence and a dangerous precedent for government overreach into higher education institutions.
Legal and Academic Communities Applaud Decision
Following the committee’s decision to drop the request, the professors’ legal team issued a statement calling the outcome a significant victory for civil liberties. “This win is also a victory for academic freedom, the rule of law, and bedrock constitutional principles,” they wrote in a joint release. “It demonstrates that educational institutions, academics, and attorneys can collectively stand up for their rights if they work together to combat unlawful government action.”
The now-withdrawn records request was part of a broader investigation by the House Committee into how universities have responded to reports of antisemitism. Critics argue that the investigation has taken on a partisan tone, with certain academic programs being scrutinized for their perceived political leanings rather than their conduct or compliance with institutional standards.
For now, Northwestern University and its Pritzker faculty can continue their work without the looming pressure of federal records demands. The case, however, has sparked renewed debate about the balance between congressional oversight and the autonomy of academic institutions, particularly when political expression and legal advocacy are at stake.
