Federal Judge Apologizes to Former Law Clerk for Misconduct

A federal judge who was disciplined after an investigation found she engaged in sexual activity with a police officer in her chambers and then lied about it has issued an apology to a former law clerk for her "harmful, offensive, and unprofessional behavior."

U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross, nominated to the bench in the Northern District of Georgia in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama, wrote in a letter dated Thursday that her "actions were patently wrong, and there is no excuse."

The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, was first reported by The New York Times.

An investigation initiated last year by the chief judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit found that Judge Ross had sex in the courthouse with a high-ranking uniformed police officer within earshot of staff, attended a partisan event, and initially lied when confronted with the allegations.

"You deserved better than to have your experience marred by my own offensive conflict," the letter stated.

Ross also conveyed her "deepest apologies to you for my false accusation against you. Again, I have no excuse and immensely regret my behavior."

This referenced a previous "entirely deficient" letter in which she failed to take full accountability.

The investigation into Judge Ross began after one of her law clerks reported multiple instances of the judge engaging in sexual activity with a high-ranking uniformed police officer in her office during working hours.

Allegations also included that the judge failed to properly supervise clerks and, on one occasion, yelled and cursed at staff.

William Pryor, the chief judge of the 11th Circuit, opened the initial investigation last fall.

When asked to respond to the clerk’s allegations, Judge Ross "specifically denied" each one, speculating in a follow-up email that the clerk might have invented claims in retaliation for being required to work in the office.

Following the investigation, which confirmed the allegations, Judge Ross received a "private reprimand" that did not publicly name her.

She also agreed not to seek the position of chief judge of the district when eligible and committed to writing apology letters to six former law clerks.

A special committee appointed by Pryor reviewed logs and security footage, which showed an officer frequently visiting the judge’s chambers in uniform around lunchtime.

Six clerks recalled seeing someone matching the officer’s description, with three remembering overhearing what may have been sexual activity in the judge’s office.

Three clerks also recounted bringing summer interns to watch the judge preside over a criminal case.

Immediately afterward, they told the committee, the judge declined lunch with the interns, acknowledging she had consumed too many martinis the night before at a primary election victory party for a district attorney friend. While clerks described an "eggshell culture," the committee found no evidence of abusive behavior.

Judge Ross ultimately admitted to having an extramarital sexual relationship with the officer but denied the allegations about the mistreatment of staff.

She acknowledged attending a "mixer" of former employees of a district attorney’s office where she used to work, clarifying it was in a separate room from the victory party.

Federal judges are appointed for life and can only be removed by impeachment by Congress.

This week, two Georgia congressmen filed separate impeachment resolutions against Judge Ross, leaving it to the House Judiciary Committee to decide whether to initiate proceedings.

"Though I can never fully undo the harm that I have caused you, I hope that my acknowledgment of these failures is a small first step," Ross wrote in her letter. "I will be taking further steps to ensure that this never happens again."