A law professor at the University of Alberta has been placed on non-disciplinary leave while the university reviews online comments made following the murder of Charlie Kirk. The university has not publicly identified the faculty member involved. Dean Fiona Kelly informed law students of the leave in an email, noting that there have been threats directed at faculty, staff, and student groups.

The university is taking precautions due to the violent nature of Kirk's murder, which occurred on September 10, and its connection to the campus environment. Kelly emphasized the administration's commitment to ensuring the safety of all individuals, particularly those targeted by online threats.

In the aftermath of Kirk's death, a professor who identifies as the first openly transfeminine clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada, Florence Ashley, made comments on the social media platform Bluesky. Ashley referenced a New York Times column by Ezra Klein, which praised Kirk for his political engagement. Klein wrote, "The foundation of a free society is the ability to participate in politics without fear of violence. To lose that is to risk losing everything. Charlie Kirk — and his family — just lost everything. As a country, we came a step closer to losing everything, too."

Klein acknowledged that while many may disagree with Kirk's beliefs, he was effectively engaging in political discourse. In response, Ashley criticized the notion of praising Kirk, stating, "You do not, in fact, ever have to hand it to the Nazis. I utterly do not care for any 'virtues' that someone may perceive in them."

Ashley later clarified that her comments were not intended to label Kirk as a Nazi but were an allusion to an internet meme suggesting that one does not need to commend certain individuals or groups. The meme referenced in Ashley's post features an alleged ISIL member and conveys the message that one should not feel obligated to praise them.

The university continues to monitor the situation as it develops, while the identity of the professor on leave remains undisclosed.