Federal Judge Had Sex in Chambers, Lied to Investigators, Gets Private Reprimand
7 verified3 unconfirmed2 contested
A federal judge within the 11th Judicial Circuit engaged in a secret affair with a high-ranking police officer that included sex in the judge’s chambers during business hours, an investigation found. The judge initially denied the allegations but later admitted the relationship and recanted false statements made to the court. The Judicial Council of the 11th Circuit issued a private reprimand and kept the judge’s name secret, citing the judge’s otherwise exemplary service and commitment to rehabilitation. The judge agreed to write apology letters to former law clerks, forgo eligibility for chief judge, and refrain from partisan political events. Law clerks had reported the misconduct, including overhearing sexual activity and a lack of substantive editing of civil orders. The judge remains on the bench, as federal judges can only be removed through impeachment by Congress.
What’s verified
The judge had an extramarital sexual relationship with a police officer, including sex in chambers within hearing distance of staff.
The judge initially called the allegations “outrageous” and denied them, but later admitted the relationship and recanted false statements.
The Judicial Council of the 11th Circuit issued a private reprimand and did not publicly identify the judge.
The investigation began after a law clerk reported the judge had engaged in sexual activity with an officer on multiple occasions.
Law clerks reported that the judge rarely, if ever, substantively edited civil orders they drafted.
The judge agreed to write apology letters to six former law clerks, not to accept the position of chief judge when eligible, and to avoid partisan political events.
The committee noted the judge’s “otherwise exemplary service” and found the judge unlikely to engage in similar misconduct in the future.
Where accounts differ
One source reports that the judge’s name was not disclosed and the Associated Press could not confirm the judge’s identity. Another source identifies the judge as Eleanor Ross, who serves on the federal bench in Atlanta.
One source reports that the judge remains on the bench after a private reprimand. Another source suggests the judge will likely lose her judgeship through resignation or impeachment, expressing an expectation of removal not stated by the other source.
Not yet confirmed
One source reports that the judge attended a partisan primary election victory party for a district attorney friend and acknowledged having too many martinis the night before a hearing. This detail is not confirmed by other sources.
One source reports that the judge admitted to not reviewing any case filings before assigning cases to clerks and did not provide guidance on civil-case rulings. The level of the judge’s delegation of judicial authority to law clerks is reported in detail by only one source.
The specific number of times the judge and the officer had sex in chambers is not provided by either source.
Key figures
Judge (unnamed in official findings; identified by one source as Eleanor Ross)
William Pryor, chief judge of the 11th Circuit
Lester Tate, lawyer who defends Georgia judges
Sources: abcnews.com, reason.com
