Teresa Wagner, a conservative lawyer who claims that she was passed over for a job at University of Iowa Law School for her political leanings testified in the court Monday.

She said she was shocked when the job was given to a candidate of lesser credentials, who later had to resign due to poor performance.

Her lawyer Steve Fieweger said that the main reason behind her rejection was Professor Randall Bezanson's opposition, who was a law clerk in Supreme Court and known for drafting a decision in 1973 that legalized abortion. Whereas, Wagner has always been associated with anti-abortion rights groups. Currently, she is still working as a part-time employee at Iowa Law School's writing center.

"We're asking you to make sure that political position she takes does not affect her ability to get a job," Fieweger said.

On the other hand, the law school claims that Wagner's political views did not play any role in their decision but her failure to answer appropriately in the job interview led to her rejection.

The lawsuit names only former law school Dean Carolyn Jones as the defendant. Jones testified early Monday along with three other former and current professors echoing the same thoughts that Wagner's performance was the sole yardstick while evaluating her for the job.

"The job talk was, for a lot of people, disqualifying," Professor Christina Bohannan said in the testimony.

But, Wagner was quick to point out that school erased her taped interview to check the claims made by the school. She also said that she was quite confident she would get one of two full-time openings as she made it to final two positions. But, she said, to her disbelief one of the job openings was filled by a under qualified candidate and other was not filled at all.

The attorney defending the school, George Carroll, did agree that the candidate who filled the first job was let go after a year due to poor performance.

The closing arguments were heard in the lawsuit and the jurors have begun closed door deliberations.

Fieweger has asked the jurors to award $400,000 in damages, including for lost pay and benefits to his client.

There has been long-standing belief that conservatives are passed over for jobs in many instances and liberal bias exists. If Wagner emerges victorious in this lawsuit, it is sure to pave way for score of other lawsuits on political discrimination.