Michaels, a police officer with the Shelbyville Police Department, was dismissed for violating the city’s sexual harassment policy. Michaels and the union representing the police officers, filed a grievance over the discharge, and ultimately submitted the grievance to arbitration under the collective agreement covering police officers. The arbitrator held that Michaels had violated the sexual harassment policy, but because of Michaels’ previously unblemished record, reduced the discharge to a suspension without pay for three months. The city objected to the arbitration award, and brings an action in the federal district court to have the arbitrator’s decision vacated. What factors should the court consider in deciding this case?

How should the court decide? Why?