Suit Proceeds Claiming Admissions Denial Because of Religious Statements In Interview

In Buxton v. Kurtinitis, (D MD, June 25, 2015), plaintiff sued five employees of the Community College of Baltimore County (MD) alleging that he was unconstitutionally denied admission to the school's radiation therapy program.  Dustin Buxton claimed that he was denied admission because of his expression of religious belief during his admissions interview. A Maryland federal district court dismissed Buxton's free speech claim, concluding that the First Amendment does not protect speech expressed in an admissions interview from admissions consequences in a competitive process. However the court permitted Buxton to proceed with an Establishment Clause and and equal protection claim.