A Coalition of States Asserts Academic Independence
The blue-state brief aligns with Harvard’s constitutional arguments, emphasizing that state economies, workforces, and educational prestige all depend on federally funded universities remaining free from federal ideological mandates.
The brief also warns of a “brain drain” if institutions like Harvard lose funding and talent flees to more stable academic environments. Protecting university autonomy, the states argue, ensures they can continue to attract top-tier faculty, foster innovation, and preserve academic integrity.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, in a bold public statement Monday, pledged unwavering support for Harvard and the principles under siege.
“The president cannot strong-arm universities into abandoning their core values,” Campbell said. “I will continue to stand with every university that defends academic freedom and diversity.”
The Legal Lineup: Titans of Law Take the Field
Harvard’s formidable legal team includes top names from Jenner & Block LLP, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, King & Spalding LLP, and Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP—a who’s-who of appellate and constitutional law heavyweights. Representing the federal government is a team from the U.S. Department of Justice, led by attorneys including Chad Mizelle and Yaakov M. Roth.
As the case barrels toward summary judgment, the legal clash may redefine the boundaries between federal power and university independence, with high stakes not just for Harvard, but for every American institution of higher learning.
