Yesterday's Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision in MacCudden v. Johnson (Justice Joseph Donald, joined by Justice Maxine White), involved a former high school English teacher (MacCudden); at the time of the statements, she had resigned from the school district, but hadn't updated her LinkedIn profile.
Johnson received a screenshot from a friend of a portion of MacCudden's LinkedIn profile, which Johnson subsequently posted on social media. Johnson's post included the portion of MacCudden's LinkedIn profile which stated that she worked as a "Social Justice Coordinator" circled in red and Johnson wrote, "[w]hy the hell am I paying for a 'Social Justice Coordinator' in my school district?" Johnson further stated, "[t]his is just what @mtschools needs; more woke, white women w/ a god complex. Thank you, white savior."
Later, Johnson added, "[i]f [MacCudden] really wants to promote equity, perhaps she should forfeit her job to a person of color?" Johnson also replied to a social media user that:
Teachers who educate are paid a fraction of what these DEI "specialists" earn. Parents know these woke lunatics are bullies. They are bullying you into silence and compliance.
Good teachers should earn more, get support & feel safe. Partner with us and let's put kids first.
The court concluded that these statements weren't actionable defamation:
