Perry v. Sindermann

Facts

The respondent, Robert Sindermann, was a teacher in the state college system of the State of Texas from 1959 to 1969. After teaching for two years at the University of Texas and for four years at San Antonio Junior College, he came a professor of Government and Social Science at Odessa Junior College. He was employed at the college for four years under a series of one-year contracts. He eventually became the co-chairman of his department. During 1968 to 1969, he left his teaching duties on several occasions and became involved in public disagreements with the policies of the college’s Board of Regents. When his employment contract ended, the Board voted not to offer him a new contract. The Regents issued a press release setting forth allegations of the respondent’s insubordination. But they provided him no official statement of the reasons for the nonrenewal of his contract nor did they allow him any opportunity for a hearing to challenge the basis of the nonrenewal.