Trump appointed judges say they won't hire Columbia law students caught protesting

A group of conservative federal judges appointed by Donald Trump have said they will not hire Columbia University students as law clerks who were caught protesting.

The 13 judges wrote an open letter to President Minouche Shafik stating that they have 'lost confidence in Columbia as an institution of higher education' in wake of its ongoing pro-Palestine protests.

They noted that the New York City-based university had become 'ground zero for the explosion of student disruptions, anti-semitism and hatred for diverse viewpoints on campuses' and 'an incubator of bigotry'. 

The University has been embroiled in controversy since the beginning of its pro-Palestine protests -  including the arrests of nearly 100 activists from campus grounds and cancelation of its graduation ceremony. 

The 13 judges wrote an open letter to President Minouche Shafik stating that they have 'lost confidence in Columbia as an institution of higher education' in wake of its ongoing pro-Palestine protests

Elizabeth L. Branch, a Circuit Judge at the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and is one of the primary signatories of the letter

James C. Ho, a Circuit Judge at the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and primary signatory. Judge Ho has also announced boycotts of clerks from Yale Law School and Stanford Law School due to 'cancel culture' and free speech concerns in the past

Matthew H. Solomson, a judge at the US Court of Federal Claims is the third primary signatory of the letter

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik visited Hamilton Hall after police arrested nearly 100 protestors

The police operation was concluded within around two hours of cops storming the campus

Cops were armed with zip ties and pepper spray as they stormed the campus at around 9.3-pm on Tuesday

Students set up tents on campus grounds to protest in support of Palestinians at Columbia 

The primary signatories of the letter are Elizabeth L. Branch, a Circuit Judge at the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; James C. Ho, a Circuit Judge at the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Matthew H. Solomson, a judge at the US Court of Federal Claims. 

They were joined by 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. 

The Texas-state based judges told President Shafik and Law School Dean Gillian Lester, that University had essentially 'disqualified itself from educating the future leaders of our country' due to its response towards the protest. 

According to the letter, the conservative group believes that the Ivy-League college has 'double standards' and if it had been 'faced with a campus uprising of religious conservatives upset because they view abortion as a tragic genocide, they have no doubt that the university's response would have been profoundly different'. 

The NYPD moved to clear Hamilton Hall on April 30, less than 24 hours after it was occupied by protesters at Columbia University

NYPD cops dressed in riot gear stormed through the window of a Columbia University building occupied by dozens of pro-Palestine protestors to begin clearing them out

Protesters have been demanding the college divest from companies with links to Israel or firms profiting from its war on Hamas

The judges have also provided a three-pointer solution to Columbia, stating that following it would 'reclaim [the University's] once-distinguished reputation'. 

The letter closes with this statement: 'Considering recent events, and absent extraordinary change, we will not hire anyone who joins the Columbia University community—whether as undergraduates or law students— beginning with the entering class of 2024.'

The boycott does not apply to current students but instead to those who are enrolled for the upcoming academic year. 

But despite this, Dean Lester has voiced her support for the students.

In a statement obtained by the Washington Post, the educator said: 'We are proud that Columbia Law School graduates are consistently sought out by leading employers in the private and public sectors, including the judiciary. 

'And we are deeply committed to supporting our exceptional students as they prepare to embark on their careers in the legal profession.' 

Judge Ho has also announced boycotts of clerks from Yale Law School and Stanford Law School due to 'cancel culture' and free speech concerns in the past.