Ward Vs. Polite Case Summary

Summary

The Ward versus Polite case came to the Sixth Circuit United States Court of Appeals in 2011. The appellate case results from the 2010 lawsuit which the plaintiff lost. Both cases involve a self-professed Christian student, Julea Ward, in her third year of the Eastern Michigan University School Counseling program in 2009. As part of the program, all students are required to work at the university’s counseling center for 100 hours. Mrs. Ward was presented with a case file in which a student wanted counseling. The student had received counseling from the center before for depression stemming from his same-sex romantic relationship; though, the reason for this particular counseling session was unknown. Upon reviewing the file, Ward met with her supervisor, Professor Calloway. Her desire was to either refer the student to a

Ward’s request unethical and Mrs. Ward’s unwillingness to change her position necessitated an informal review. That review included the academic supervisor along with the practicum supervisor and the student. Offered to the student were three options: complete a remediation plan, resign from the Counseling program, or request a university formal review. The university’s Formal Review Committee consisting of one student and two professors, all from the Counseling Department and one professor from the Education Leadership Department, determined she violated the university’s code of ethics and therefore was dismissed her from the Counseling Program. The dismissal led to the first court case, Ward v. Willbanks. The trial court ruled in favor of Eastern Michigan University (EMU) through summary judgment. Mrs. Ward appealed the case to the state appellate court, who reversed the decision and returned the case to the lower court for adjudication. Judicial adjudication was avoided, however, as the university settled with Mrs. Ward with a monetary payment and the removal of the expulsion from her