What is documented?
The Supreme Court’s opinion recounts the university proceedings. It invalidated the federal civil remedy in 42 U.S.C. §13981 on constitutional grounds.
Limits of this record
The 2000 constitutional decision was not a criminal verdict about the alleged assault. University disciplinary findings and court rulings are separately identified.
The dated record
Compare institutions →Alleged assault at Virginia Tech
The district opinion recounts an alleged assault over the night of 21 September and the following morning. Allegations are attributed to the pleading.
Brzonkala: district court civil-remedy opinion, 935 F. Supp. 779 ↗University disciplinary proceedings
The opinion recounts two hearings and a suspension of Morrison, later set aside by the university provost on 21 August 1995.
Brzonkala: Fourth Circuit panel opinion ↗District court dismisses Title IX claims
Chief Judge Kiser dismissed the Title IX claims. Later appeals addressed the legal sufficiency of the claims; this was not a criminal trial.
Brzonkala: district court Title IX opinion, 935 F. Supp. 772 ↗District court rejects the federal civil remedy
Chief Judge Kiser held the federal remedy unconstitutional and declined jurisdiction over state claims. The decision concerned legal authority, not a criminal verdict.
Brzonkala: district court civil-remedy opinion, 935 F. Supp. 779 ↗Supreme Court invalidates the federal civil remedy
The majority held Congress lacked authority to enact this remedy. The decision did not determine criminal guilt or innocence.
United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 ↗Leadership & court roles
Paul Torgersen
President, 1994–2000
Term recorded by Virginia Tech archives. Holding office does not establish personal involvement in a disciplinary decision.
Source for this role ↗Source date: Publication date not confirmed · Checked 1 Oct 2026
Chief Judge Kiser
7 May and 26 July 1996
The district opinions record dismissal of Title IX claims and the federal civil-remedy claim on separate legal grounds. These were not criminal acquittals.
Source for this role ↗Source date: 26 Jul 1996 · Checked 1 Oct 2026
William H. Rehnquist
Supreme Court majority opinion · 15 May 2000
Authored the majority opinion invalidating the federal civil remedy. The ruling concerned congressional authority.
Source for this role ↗Source date: 15 May 2000 · Checked 1 Oct 2026
Sourcebook
United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 ↗
Opinion includes the procedural history of the 1994 allegation and university proceedings. Legal language may be distressing.
Virginia Tech archives: Paul Torgersen ↗
Publication date not displayed; checked 1 October 2026.
Brzonkala: district court Title IX opinion, 935 F. Supp. 772 ↗
District court ruling; later appellate history is separately linked.
Brzonkala: district court civil-remedy opinion, 935 F. Supp. 779 ↗
Opinion accepts allegations for purposes of the dismissal analysis, not as a criminal verdict.
Brzonkala: Fourth Circuit panel opinion ↗
Panel opinion; subsequently vacated for en banc review. Read alongside the Supreme Court history.