Career day may soon get a little more interesting for Vickey Broussard Willis' students at Oak Hall School.
Last week, her husband, UF law professor Steven Willis submitted his application to fill one of two vacant positions on the Florida Supreme Court.
"My wife teaches government, so I think she would like that," Willis said.
The Louisiana native and self-ordained Cajun said his background in academics will give him an edge over his competitors who practice law.
He said he imagines that being a justice isn't much different than being a professor - a lot of reading, a lot of deciding and a lot of writing.
"A judge has to look at cases reasonably and fairly, and that's what a law professor does," he said. "I don't argue a case; I present both sides."
The court would also benefit from his tax accounting and finance background - specialties that don't have enough of a presence on the current court, he said.
Willis is no stranger to standing out.
He said of about 60 tenured faculty members in the Levin College of Law, he is one of two Republicans.
"That is one of the most significant parts of my job, and it is very lonely," he said.
Willis said his political affiliation is "highly unusual" at a law school.
He said he has been ridiculed because of it, but he has stood by his convictions.
He proved this last year when the Law School Republicans, of which he is the faculty advisor, sponsored a screening of the film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West."
The screening was advertised with the headline "Radical Islam Wants You Dead!" In response, UF Vice President for Student Affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin sent an e-mail to all students encouraging the sponsors of the screening to apologize because some students found it offensive.
Willis and the student organization argued this was an infringement on free speech and were eventually able to get the administration to retract the statement.
"None of the law faculty supported us, and this is free speech," he said.
In mid-August, Willis and the 49 other applicants will have an interview with a nine-member committee in Tampa.
The committee will then submit a list of recommendations to Gov. Charlie Crist, who will have the final say.
If he is chosen for the job, Willis said he plans to keep his UF position because he will only be in Tallahassee for about a week each month and every Wednesday.
He said he wants to be able to say he has taught at UF for 50 years. He has been here since 1981.
"Tenure at a university is a very important thing, and I wouldn't give that up lightly," he said.
Willis said he doesn't have any connections to the governor, but that doesn't worry him.
"Judicial nominations are supposed to be merit-based. I think this governor is looking for quality," he said.
