Federal Judges Boycott Columbia University Graduates Over Handling of Campus Protests

Background

Thirteen federal judges, all appointed by former President Donald Trump, have declared they will no longer hire clerks who graduate from Columbia University or its Law School.

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Reasons for Boycott

• The judges cite Columbia’s handling of campus disruptions by pro-Palestinian protesters as the primary reason for their decision.
• They accuse Columbia of fostering an environment of “bigotry” and losing their confidence due to alleged incidents of anti-Semitism and suppression of diverse viewpoints.

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Letter to Columbia University

• The judges conveyed their stance in a letter addressed to Columbia University’s president, dated May 6.
• They state that unless significant changes occur, the boycott will affect students entering Columbia’s undergraduate and law programs in 2024.

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Allegations Against Columbia

• According to the judges, Columbia has become a center for disruptions, particularly following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.
• They claim that faculty and administrators have been complicit in these disruptions, highlighting what they perceive as the university’s “ideological homogeneity.”

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Key Figures

• Notable signatories include Judge James C. Ho of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Elizabeth L. Branch of the 11th Circuit, and Judge Matthew H. Solomson of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

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Previous Actions

• In prior years, some of the judges, including Ho and Branch, announced similar boycotts against Yale Law School and Stanford Law School, citing concerns over stifled viewpoints.

Demands to Columbia

The judges’ letter calls on Columbia to:

• Impose “serious consequences” for those involved in campus disruptions.
• Ensure impartial enforcement of campus rules without favoritism towards certain viewpoints.
• Foster viewpoint diversity among faculty and across the administration.

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Additional Signatories

• Other judges who supported the boycott include Judge Alan Albright, Judge David Counts, Judge James W. Hendrix, Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle, Judge Tilman E. Self III, Judge Brantley Starr, Judge Drew B. Tipton, Judge Daniel M. Traynor, and Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden.