A federal judge has chosen not to stop disciplinary actions against two Iowa educators who posted on social media following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, though she acknowledged the situation as “profoundly concerning.”
Katherine Mejia and Jennifer Smith initiated a lawsuit against the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) and its executive director, Michael Cavin. They claimed that the state licensing body infringed on their First Amendment rights by scrutinizing their online comments soon after Kirk’s assassination.
Chief Judge Stephanie Rose of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa rejected the teachers’ plea for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. She explained that federal courts typically refrain from intervening in ongoing state enforcement actions. Rose noted that the teachers could present their constitutional claims during the board’s disciplinary hearings and, if needed, in Iowa’s state judiciary.
In her ruling, Rose stated that professional licensing probes are considered “quasi-criminal” proceedings by federal standards, necessitating federal courts to step aside while the state process unfolds. The board had already deployed investigators and initiated formal proceedings against the teachers, firmly placing the situation within this framework.
Charlie Kirk addresses an audience at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, shortly before his assassination. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
Rose clarified that her ruling did not resolve whether the board’s actions infringed upon the First Amendment.
The judge dismissed the teachers’ claims for injunctive and declaratory relief without prejudice, allowing them to return to federal court after the state proceedings conclude if necessary. Their claims for monetary damages against Cavin in his individual capacity were stayed pending the outcome of the board’s process.
“The timing, the statewide reach, and the viewpoint-specific framing of the letter present a picture that is, at minimum, deeply troubling,” Rose wrote. “A licensing authority’s enforcement apparatus should not be mobilized in response to political pressure to suppress disfavored commentary on a public figure’s death — and this record raises serious questions about whether that is precisely what occurred here.”
Kyle Rittenhouse, right, is introduced to a cheering crowd by Charlie Kirk, middle, founder of Turning Point USA, as Jack Posobiec, left, host of Once America News Network, joins them on stage at a panel discussion at the Turning Point USA America Fest 2021 event, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press)
According to the lawsuit, Mejia, a counselor for the West Delaware Community School District, reposted commentary criticizing Kirk and other “right-wing extremist influencers,” writing in one Facebook post: “KIRK IS NEITHER A MARTYR NOR A HERO. HE IS A CAUSE!”
The lawsuit alleges that Superintendent Jen Vance issued Mejia a letter of reprimand claiming she made the posts during work hours and instructing her to “exercise professional discretion when engaging in any online activity,” despite Mejia being on district-approved leave at the time.
The complaint further alleges that on Sept. 19, 2025, Cavin sent a letter to school superintendents across Iowa referencing educators’ comments about Kirk’s assassination and stating that “administrators are encouraged to file a complaint with the board,” while identifying the specific ethical rule under which complaints could be filed. According to the lawsuit, that letter prompted Vance to submit a complaint to the BOEE.
In court filings, attorneys for the board argued that opening an investigation does not constitute discipline and that Iowa has a significant interest in enforcing professional standards for licensed educators.
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is assassinated during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on September 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Smith, a teacher in the Johnston Community School District, allegedly posted on Facebook the day after Kirk’s assassination, quoting prior remarks attributed to Kirk criticizing Martin Luther King Jr. and suggesting that annual gun deaths were a necessary cost of preserving Second Amendment rights.
According to the lawsuit, Smith also wrote: “RIP you monster. I’m so sure your god is fine with the awful spread of hate you completed while here on earth.” The complaint states that she later deleted the post after receiving a call from human resources indicating a school board member had received a complaint.
The lawsuit alleges that Johnston Superintendent Nikki Roorda later filed a complaint with the BOEE following Cavin’s letter.
Mejia and Smith are seeking to prevent the board from pursuing disciplinary action against them, arguing that their posts constituted protected political speech on matters of public concern. In court filings, they warned that even a probable cause finding could become part of their public licensure record and potentially affect their employment under Iowa law.
Fox News Digital has reached out to defense counsel for the BOEE and plaintiffs seeking comment.
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