Group pushes for High Point University to reconsider new law school dean

A left leaning political group launched a campaign that aims to get High Point University to reconsider the leader of its new law school.

The university recently announced former North Carolina Chief Justice Mark Martin will be founding dean of the program.

Carolina Forward is behind the large billboard that soars over I-74 in High Point.

It shows a picture of the former Chief Justice and says he “Betrayed Our Constitution.” The group also launched a digital campaign.

It's urging High Point University President Nido Qubein and the university's National Board of Advisors to rescind Mark Martin's appointment as law school dean.

In a press release, Carolina Forward points to various media reports and articles in The New York Times that connect Martin with efforts to support former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of election fraud.

In June, HPU announced that Martin would be the first dean of its law school.

In a statement to WFDD, High Point University highlighted his career accomplishments and said Martin was hired following a search process that included recommendations and reviews from legal professionals, academic deans, and other leaders from both sides of the political spectrum.

"HPU's Board of Trustees and President will always make important decisions like employment status based on merit, but unless legal due process has rendered proof of anything illegal, then decisions cannot be made based merely on hearsay and media reports," says Pam Haynes, assistant vice president for communications at High Point University. "If legal due process renders facts in the future that prove an individual has done something illegal, the university would take appropriate action based on such facts."

Martin made history in his judiciary career by becoming the youngest Court of Appeals judge in North Carolina and youngest person to serve on the state's Supreme Court.

He previously served as dean of Regent University School of Law.

High Point University's law school was announced in March as part of a $400 million academic expansion plan. University officials say the first students are expected to enroll in 2023.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect Donald Trump's status as a former president. 

Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news