Lawrence Mitchell resigned as dean of the Case Western Reserve University School of Law effective March 1. Mitchell had been on a leave of absence since November, after he was sued by a faculty member for alleged retaliation.
“Upon thorough reflection, I have concluded that I cannot return to my job as dean with the same energy and enthusiasm that characterized my earlier service,” according to a university press release. “At this point, it is in the best interest of the law school for me to step down as dean. I will retain my position as a tenured professor and continue to seek to serve the school however I can.”
Mitchell will remain on the school’s faculty but will take a sabbatical during the 2014-15 school year, which is a common practice for deans who step down.
University President Barbara Snyder wrote in an e-mail to law school faculty that Mitchell “has resigned his leadership position to alleviate distractions for the school related to pending litigation,” the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.
“The university believes strongly in the ability of the judicial system to provide due process and a full and thorough presentation by the university and Mitchell of the facts,” the release stated. “In that context, the university will continue to refrain from public comments regarding the case.”
Law Professor Raymond Ku filed a lawsuit in October against Mitchell and the university alleging that when Ku reported that Mitchell had potentially sexually harassed women, Ku suffered retaliation.