Judge expects to rule soon on Juweid deposition issue

IOWA CITY - Chief Judge Patrick Grady said he expects to rule soon on whether an on-leave University of Iowa professor must appear in person in a deposition for his lawsuit against the university.

A court hearing was held Friday morning in Johnson County on the deposition issue in the lawsuit of Dr. Malik Juweid versus the university and numerous officials. Grady is chief judge of the 6th Judicial District.

The state argues Juweid must appear in person at a deposition for the case. Juweid did not appear at a scheduled June 18 deposition in Iowa City, after which the state filed a motion for sanctions, asking the court to require Juweid to appear in person.

"We have the absolute right to depose him in person," Iowa Assistant Attorney General George Carroll said.

Juweid's attorney, Rockne Cole, said there is no case law that requires a personal appearance, and he said Juweid has offered to appear via video link. Juweid is splitting his time between Jordan and Germany, trying to secure full-time employment, Cole said. Juweid testified via video link for an internal UI ethics hearing recently, Cole noted.

Carroll said there were visual and phone connection problems with using the video technology in that hearing, and he added the UI hearing was not a court of law.

At Friday's hearing, Juweid participated via telephone. He said he fears if he returns to Iowa City, UI officials will have him arrested or otherwise harmed.

Juweid is suing the UI and numerous university officials, claiming discrimination and retaliation by supervisors and colleagues. The UI has denied the allegations.

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