HARRISONBURG VA (Rocktown Now) — The lawyer for the former James Madison University employee who filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the university has decided to part ways.

In a motion filed Thursday morning in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, Tim Schulte withdrew as counsel for Darla Edwards, stating that an attorney-client relationship had soured to the point that he could no longer represent her in the case.

The 51-year-old Edwards, who worked for JMU from 2018 to 2023 as the Director of Business and Education Partnerships, filed a lawsuit against the school, claiming in the suit that she was passed up for a promotion because of her race.

She is seeking compensatory damages as well as back pay and benefits.

A judge has given Edwards until August 1st to find a new attorney, or she will represent herself in the case that is scheduled to go to trial on October 21st.