A union that represents government employees may recoup its attorneys’ fees for helping an ousted Equal Employment Opportunity Commission mediator get his job back, the Federal Circuit ruled March 29.

The arbitrator who granted reinstatement to David Hamilton failed to explain why AFGE Local 3599 wasn’t entitled to attorneys’ fees as the prevailing party, the appeals court said. That left no way to tell whether a valid reason existed for denying the award, the court said.

“The Federal Circuit remanded...