Tesla Gets Warm Court Welcome in Fight Over Musk Union Tweet (1)

Conservatives on a federal appeals court in New Orleans appeared skeptical that Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk illegally threatened workers when he tweeted about them losing stock options if they unionized.

During oral argument before the full US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Thursday, Republican-appointed judges criticized the National Labor Relations Board’s determination that the tweet was a threat. The judges also questioned the board’s order that Tesla make Musk delete the tweet, as well as the notion that they should review the administrative ruling using a deferential standard.

A ruling in favor of Tesla from the ...