Elite-College Judges Don't Favor Unions.

• Position: Brief Article

Appeals court judges who graduated from elite colleges were 30% more likely to rule against unions in labor law cases than were those from lesser-selective colleges, researchers at Ohio State University, Columbus, have found. Their study also concluded that female Republican judges were much more likely than Republican men to rule in favor of unions. Moreover, numerous personal, professional, and political background factors were significantly associated with judges' likelihood of supporting or rejecting union legal positions.

For example, those who had previously held elected office were more likely to support unions on certain types of labor law issues, as were Catholic, Jewish, and African-American judges. More recent appointees from both parties were significantly less likely to support a union.

The fact that judges from elite colleges were nearly one-third less likely to side with unions shows how life experiences can...