George Washington University has hired U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan teach a law school course on judicial ethics and decision-making, even as she presides over a federal lawsuit against the university.

AliKhan, a Biden appointee to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is overseeing Soffer v. George Washington University, a case filed in May 2025 by Jewish students and recent graduates. 

The suit alleges that GWU, in Washington, D.C., violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by allowing a hostile environment for Jewish students. Plaintiffs cite incidents of harassment, vandalism and other conduct, along with what they describe as an inadequate administrative response.

The university announced AliKhan’s teaching role Feb. 25 as part of its law school Field Placement Program. The Spring 2026 course, titled “Judicial Lawyering,” is expected to cover judicial decision-making, professional responsibility, attorney ethical obligations and broader issues related to fairness and bias in the legal system.

The appointment, first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, has drawn criticism from some legal scholars, who argue it may create a conflict of interest under federal judicial ethics rules.

AliKhan has not recused herself from the case. However, she paused proceedings in late March to consider whether the teaching role presents a potential conflict. A status conference is scheduled for April 20, when the issue is expected to be addressed.

Neither AliKhan nor George Washington University has publicly commented on the appointment or the ongoing case.

Sabrina Soffer, a lead plaintiff, said she learned of the teaching arrangement after proceedings were paused.

Legal experts contend that the situation raises clear ethical concerns. 

The Code of Conduct for U.S. judges similarly states they must recuse themselves when their impartiality could reasonably be questioned, including when they have “a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be affected substantially by the outcome.”

Keith Fisher, an associate professor at St. Thomas University College of Law and former American Bar Association brief writer in a Supreme Court recusal case, told the Free Beacon: This is such an easy decision. ... You should not even allow a scintilla of suspicion that you might not be impartial. The minute she decided to accept this position with GW, she should have disqualified herself and short-circuited this whole thing.”

The case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.