Judge orders USD professor to return to classroom

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – USD professor Michael Hook is returning to the classroom after a federal judge granted his request for a temporary restraining order.

Hook is suing representatives from the South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) and University of South Dakota after he was put on administrative leave for a social media post regarding Charlie Kirk.

U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier granted the request for Hook to return to the classroom until the preliminary injunction hearing set for October 8.

"The court concludes that defendants took an adverse employment action against Hook and that Hook's speech was the 'substantial or motivating factor' in defendant's decision to place Hook on administrative leave and notify him of their intention to fire him," Schreier said in her opinion.