A former Weld County high school principal will be able to pursue his claim of religious-based retaliation against the superintendent who sought to fire him, a federal judge ruled last month.

Brian Littlefield was a longtime school administrator who became the leader of Roosevelt High School in 2019. He alleged his 2021 termination was the result of a “campaign of unlawful discriminatory activity” by district leadership, owing to his status as a Christian and a White man.

On Oct. 19, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer ruled on a motion to dismiss from two of the defendants: then-Superintendent Leslie Arnold and Cara Anderson, the assistant superintendent of human resources. Brimmer dismissed Anderson from the lawsuit entirely, but found the allegations supported a claim that Arnold unlawfully took action against Littlefield as a response to his speech to a Christian student group.

“Dr. Littlefield has plausibly alleged that Ms. Arnold retaliated against him for his association with the (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) in violation of his First Amendment rights when she issued a negative performance review and demoted him,” Brimmer wrote.

Littlefield alleged the retaliation began after he spoke to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before school started on Feb. 25, 2021. Two days later, Arnold amended Littlefield’s previously satisfactory performance evaluation to identify problems – including insubordination, implicit bias, and failing to promote safety and equity.

On March 1, Littlefield met with Arnold and Anderson, where they allegedly reprimanded him for his “White privilege,” told him he was “not at a Christian school” and accused him of bias.

“During that meeting, Dr. Littlefield was subjected to numerous false allegations ranging from him being  homophobic – which was and is untrue – to accusing him of struggling with Ms. Arnold because she was female,” the lawsuit explained, adding Littlefield “has a family member that is homosexual.”

Littlefield quickly filed a complaint against Arnold and Anderson, believing he was under attack as a “White conservative man.”

Arnold and Anderson, in turn, filed a complaint against Littlefield.

Although Littlefield took issue with the integrity of the investigation, he acknowledged the school district found his allegations were unsubstantiated. The district concluded Littlefield, on the other hand, treated women differently, responded inappropriately to racial and LGBTQ issues, and was unprepared for union negotiations.

Subsequently, Arnold recommended that Littlefield be demoted to “co-principal” of Roosevelt, where he had fewer responsibilities. Days later, the school board fired Arnold, then terminated Littlefield shortly afterward.

Littlefield brought claims against Arnold, Anderson and Weld County School District RE-5J under state and federal civil rights law, alleging they discriminated against him on the basis of race, sex and religion. He also claimed he was retaliated against after he exercised his First Amendment right to associate with “the Christian Church.”

Brimmer quickly dismissed the claim that Littlefield advanced under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. Littlefield filed a deficient notice to the state, so federal courts could not hear his claim under Colorado law.

As for Littlefield’s First Amendment claim, Brimmer acknowledged he was unsure what Littlefield meant by saying he was a member of “the Christian Church.” Because Littlefield alleged he was discriminated against as a result of associating with an organization, Brimmer concluded “the Christian Church” and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes were the only two organizations implicated.

Brimmer noted that Littlefield failed to allege Anderson knew about his affiliation with either group, which was “fatal” to his claim that she retaliated against him. The same logic applied, in part, to Arnold.

“Dr. Littlefield’s complaint contains no allegations that Ms. Arnold knew he was a member of an organized group called the Christian Church, and therefore he has failed to allege that she retaliated against him based on his association with that group,” Brimmer wrote.

However, Arnold did allegedly know about Littlefield’s address to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she altered his performance review and demoted him shortly afterward. Given those circumstances, Brimmer found Littlefield’s retaliation claim could proceed against Arnold only.

Separately, Arnold has also filed a lawsuit over her termination. In June, a federal judge declined to dismiss her own claim of retaliation against the school district. She alleged the district fired her after she took a stand against Littlefield’s alleged instances of racism, sexism and homophobia.

The school district has moved to end the case in its favor, and the request is pending before U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang.

The case is Littlefield v. Weld County School District RE-5J.