On Jan. 8, Shannon’s attorneys filed a lawsuit against the University of Illinois Board of Trustees,
seeking a temporary restraining orderagainst the school in an attempt to be reinstated to the team. Eleven days later, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless ruled the school violated Shannon’s civil rights with the suspension that would cause Shannon “irreparable harm,” depriving him of “protected property interests” without due process. Those interests, she wrote, include prospects of being an NBA Draft lottery pick this summer and earning money on potential endorsements allowed by the NCAA’s name, image and likeness rules.
With the ruling, the school reinstated Shannon “to full status” while the university student conduct process and criminal case proceeded, per a statement from associate chancellor Robin Kaler. It also specified Underwood “
was instructed to treat Mr. Shannon as he would any other member of the team in good standing and not limit participation based on the involved allegations.”