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FLORIDA - First Amendment legal victory for Canterbury University smashes Accreditation Myths.
/EIN Presswire/ For two years, former Sneads City Manager Jerry G. Tramel Ph.D., a graduate of Canterbury University, has fought to clear his name and confirm the bona fides of his credentials. Justice was finally done on August 26 in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court when Judge William L. Wright dismissed all charges against him after the Prosecution was forced to admit that his degrees were perfectly legal.
The hearing took just 27 minutes during which every facet of the State's case against Dr. Tramel collapsed. Dr. Tramel's degrees from Canterbury University (which is legally incorporated in the Seychelles and has an office in Hyde, Cheshire, UK) do not have accreditation recognized by the US Department of Education which is voluntary and is not possible anyway because the Secretary of Education is prevented by statute from accrediting foreign degrees, institutions or programs.
He was charged under Florida Statute 817.567 which had been previously struck down as an unconstitutional violation of First Amendment rights in Samuel Bartow Strange, III v. Michael Satz and Saavedra v. State of Florida,
"People don't understand accreditation" explained Dr. Tramel, referring to the report "Can College Accreditation Live Up to Its Promise?" by George Leef and Roxana Burris for the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. "People think it is compulsory when it's voluntary. They think it's a warranty of degree quality which it's not. It allows access to Title IV Federal Tax Dollars and academic freedom restricted to what the Federal Government dictates. I believe access to academic programs independent of Government finance and interference is an essential factor in a free society."
Judge William L. Wright agreed the law had been unconstitutionally applied, dismissed all charges and wished Jerry Tramel good luck, days before the conclusion of another long running Florida case in which Naples Police Officers Joe Popka and Drew McGregor were similarly vindicated over their use of unaccredited degrees.
"I lost my job over this." Veteran Tramel points out, "But nobody involved in the investigation or prosecution of this case remains in the employ of the State Attorney's Office. I have been advised that I can expect substantial compensation for being put through this terrible ordeal, which my wife and I have endured to clear my own name and to make a stand for academic freedom for every Citizen of this great State and this great Country."
The hearing took just 27 minutes during which every facet of the State's case against Dr. Tramel collapsed. Dr. Tramel's degrees from Canterbury University (which is legally incorporated in the Seychelles and has an office in Hyde, Cheshire, UK) do not have accreditation recognized by the US Department of Education which is voluntary and is not possible anyway because the Secretary of Education is prevented by statute from accrediting foreign degrees, institutions or programs.
He was charged under Florida Statute 817.567 which had been previously struck down as an unconstitutional violation of First Amendment rights in Samuel Bartow Strange, III v. Michael Satz and Saavedra v. State of Florida,
"People don't understand accreditation" explained Dr. Tramel, referring to the report "Can College Accreditation Live Up to Its Promise?" by George Leef and Roxana Burris for the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. "People think it is compulsory when it's voluntary. They think it's a warranty of degree quality which it's not. It allows access to Title IV Federal Tax Dollars and academic freedom restricted to what the Federal Government dictates. I believe access to academic programs independent of Government finance and interference is an essential factor in a free society."
Judge William L. Wright agreed the law had been unconstitutionally applied, dismissed all charges and wished Jerry Tramel good luck, days before the conclusion of another long running Florida case in which Naples Police Officers Joe Popka and Drew McGregor were similarly vindicated over their use of unaccredited degrees.
"I lost my job over this." Veteran Tramel points out, "But nobody involved in the investigation or prosecution of this case remains in the employ of the State Attorney's Office. I have been advised that I can expect substantial compensation for being put through this terrible ordeal, which my wife and I have endured to clear my own name and to make a stand for academic freedom for every Citizen of this great State and this great Country."
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