NYT:

Acceding to a storm of protest, the University of Florida abandoned efforts on Friday to keep three political science professors from testifying in a voting-rights lawsuit against the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Hours later, however, the professors sued university officials in federal court, claiming their First Amendment rights had been violated. They asked the court to permanently bar the university from limiting their outside work on matters opposing the state’s interests.

“The lawsuit on behalf of three political science professors fires back at the brazen violation by the University of Florida of their First Amendment rights and academic freedom,” David A. O’Neil and Paul Donnelly, two lawyers for the professors, said in a statement on Friday. “It is time for this matter to be rightfully adjudicated, not by press release, but in a court of law.”

The lawsuit appeared likely to prolong a weeklong dispute between the professors and university officials that has gained national attention for its political and free-speech implications. A spokeswoman for the university, Hessy Fernandez, said officials do not comment on pending litigation.

The professors, Sharon D. Wright Austin, Daniel A. Smith and Michael McDonald, are providing expert testimony in a case that seeks to overturn restrictions on voting approved by the State Legislature last spring. The legislation was a top priority for Mr. DeSantis, a Republican who has sought to build a national political following.