MBE Question of the Day

A popular coach of a women’s state college basketball team is known for her outspoken and controversial political views. Members of the college’s board of governors, concerned about the attention that the coach was getting for her views, warned the coach about speaking out so often in public places. Recently, her basketball team has come under investigation after an ineligible player participated in a national tournament. As a result, the state college’s Board of Governors has declined to renew the coach’s contract on the ground that she knowingly used an ineligible player in the basketball tournament. The coach believes her contract was not renewed because of her political views, not the ineligible player. Which of the following most accurately states the burden of proof in a suit by the coach in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the board’s refusal to renew her employment contract?

(A) The coach must demonstrate that her political views did not interfere with her job duties.
(B) The coach must demonstrate that the board’s refusal to renew her contract was based on her political views.
(C) The board must demonstrate that it would have refused to renew the coach’s contract on account of her knowing use of an ineligible player even if she did not hold controversial political views.
(D) The board must demonstrate that the refusal to renew the coach’s contract was primarily based on the knowing use of an ineligible player and only secondarily on the fact that she has controversial political views.
Answer to be posted tomorrow…….