A landmark decision by the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Judicial Council has cleared eight federal judges of misconduct allegations stemming from their boycott of hiring law clerks from Columbia University. This boycott was a reaction to the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations triggered by the conflict in Gaza.
The controversy began in May when these judges, all appointed by former President Donald Trump, announced they would not hire clerks from Columbia. They criticized the university, labeling it an “incubator of bigotry” and demanding “serious consequences” for protest participants.
A prisoner lodged a judicial misconduct complaint, accusing the judges of political bias and suggesting they should be removed from office. However, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Priscilla Richman dismissed the complaint, stating that the judges’ actions did not violate the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges.
Judge Richman, appointed by former President George W. Bush, emphasized that judges have the right to exercise discretion in their hiring practices, particularly when they believe a university fails to promote essential educational values such as viewpoint diversity and tolerance. “The judges’ decision to boycott future graduates of Columbia University as a hiring policy does not constitute misconduct,” she concluded.
The eight judges, who include notable figures like U.S. Circuit Judge James Ho, have a history of similar boycotts against other institutions like Yale and Stanford, protesting disruptions of conservative speakers on those campuses.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s autonomy in hiring practices while highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding campus protests and free speech. The judges involved did not comment on the decision.
