A consortium of 13 conservative federal judges in the United States has declared their intention to boycott Columbia University's law students and undergraduates due to the institution's handling of recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations. In a letter addressed to Columbia's President Minouche Shafik and Law School Dean Gillian Lester, the judges expressed their staunch disapproval, labeling the Manhattan campus as the "epicenter" of a broader trend of student disruptions, antisemitism, and intolerance towards diverse viewpoints across the nation's educational landscape.

Columbia University has found itself embroiled in controversy as it grapples with protests against the conflict in Gaza, which have reverberated across numerous campuses nationwide. Recent actions by the university, including the summoning of the New York Police Department to dismantle encampments and clear buildings occupied by demonstrators, have intensified tensions.

In their missive, the judges, who annually appoint law clerks to the federal judiciary, articulated their loss of faith in Columbia as an institution of higher learning, branding it an "incubator of bigotry." Consequently, they asserted that Columbia has rendered itself unfit to educate the future leaders of the nation.

The letter, disclosed to CNN by Judge James C. Ho, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, along with Judges Elizabeth L. Branch of the Eleventh Circuit and Matthew H. Solomson of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, underscores a broader discontent among conservative legal figures. CNN's attempts to elicit a response from Columbia University are ongoing.

All signatories to the letter were appointed by former President Donald Trump and predominantly serve in Texas. Notable among them is Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas in Amarillo, recognized for issuing an order restricting access to mifepristone, a decision eventually reviewed by the Supreme Court last March.

Federal judges wield considerable influence in shaping the trajectory of legal careers, particularly during the formative stages. Their selection of law school graduates for clerkships can pave the way to esteemed and lucrative positions within the legal profession.

Within their correspondence, the judges delineate a series of actions they believe Columbia University should undertake, including advocating for "significant repercussions" for both students and faculty involved in campus disturbances. Columbia University has a longstanding tradition of student activism, marked by various forms of disruption over the years, such as the recent occupation of Hamilton Hall, culminating in numerous arrests.

The judges further assert that unlawfully entering and occupying public spaces provides ample justification for imprisonment. "Universities ought to identify individuals engaging in such behavior, enabling prospective employers to bypass hiring them. Otherwise, employers are left to assume the risk that any Columbia graduate they hire may be among these disruptive and intolerant individuals," the judges emphasize.

Within their correspondence, the judges delineate a series of actions they believe Columbia University should undertake, including advocating for "significant repercussions" for both students and faculty involved in campus disturbances. Columbia University has a longstanding tradition of student activism, marked by various forms of disruption over the years, such as the recent occupation of Hamilton Hall, culminating in numerous arrests.

The judges further assert that unlawfully entering and occupying public spaces provides ample justification for imprisonment. "Universities ought to identify individuals engaging in such behavior, enabling prospective employers to bypass hiring them. Otherwise, employers are left to assume the risk that any Columbia graduate they hire may be among these disruptive and intolerant individuals," the judges emphasize.