Judge blocks USD from placing professor on administrative leave for Charlie Kirk post

Phillip Michael Hook, who called Kirk 'Nazi,' could still be fired by university

A University of South Dakota professor who was placed on administrative leave after making a social media post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination is back on the job.

Federal District Court Judge Karen Schreier wasted little time in granting Phillip Michael Hook a temporary restraining order reinstating his status Wednesday. The art professor had been placed on administrative leave after making a Facebook post hours after Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination.

Schreier issued her written ruling within two hours following the conclusion of a hearing in which she listened to arguments made by Hook’s lawyer, Jim Leach, and Justin Bell, a lawyer representing the state.