A group of 13 conservative US federal judges is vowing not to hire Columbia University law students over the school's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus in recent weeks.
The justices sent a letter to Columbia President Minouche Shafik and Columbia Law School Dean Gillian Lester on Monday, outlining their position and describing the Manhattan campus as “ground zero for the explosion.” of student unrest, anti-Semitism, and hatred of diverse viewpoints on campuses across the nation.”
Columbia University has become the epicenter of protests against the war in Gaza, which have spread to dozens of campuses across the country. Last week, at the university's request, the New York Police Department was called to dismantle an encampment that protesters had set up on school grounds, resulting in hundreds of arrests. Police also removed protesters who occupied a building on campus.
“As judges who hire paralegals every year to serve in the federal judiciary, we have lost confidence in Columbia as an institution of higher education. Instead, Columbia became an incubator of bigotry. As a result, Columbia has disqualified itself from educating our country’s future leaders,” the letter states.
The letter was shared with CNN by Judge James C. Ho, Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and one of three principal signatories, including Judge Elizabeth L. Branch, Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Judge Matthew H. Solomson, who sits on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
A CNN has reached out to Columbia University for comment.
The judges who signed the letter were all appointed by former President Donald Trump and serve primarily in Texas. The list includes Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who sits in the Northern District of Texas in Amarillo and issued the order blocking broader access to mifepristone. That decision ended up being heard by the Supreme Court last March.
Federal judges can have a significant influence on a person's legal career, especially when they are entering the field. They typically hire law graduates for internships that can eventually lead to prestigious, high-paying jobs.
In their letter, the judges also outline a set of measures the university must take, including recommending “serious consequences” for students and faculty who participated in campus disruptions.
Columbia University has a rich history of student protests that, over the years, have included varying levels of disruption, including the seizure of school buildings, as was done last week when students occupied Hamilton Hall, which ultimately led to lead to dozens of arrests.
The judges also write that the illegal invasion and occupation of public spaces is a sufficient basis to justify incarceration.
“Universities must also identify students who engage in such conduct so that future employers can avoid hiring them. Otherwise, employers are forced to assume the risk that anyone they hire from Columbia could be one of these disruptive and hateful students,” the justices wrote.
Source: CNN Brasil
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