Atlanta police have launched an investigation to determine whether a high-ranking officer found to have had sex with a federal judge in the judge's chambers is a member of their department. The probe follows a court investigation that revealed the misconduct occurred during business hours within hearing distance of staff.
Details of the Misconduct
A federal judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit, which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, received a private reprimand after an investigation confirmed sexual intercourse in chambers with a uniformed police officer of high rank. The identities of both the judge and the officer were not disclosed in the investigative report, and the specific court location remains unknown. The Associated Press has been unable to independently verify the names involved.
Chief Judge Declines Comment
William Pryor, chief judge of the 11th Circuit, who appointed a committee to investigate allegations from a law clerk's complaint, declined to comment or confirm the judge's name when contacted by phone.
In addition to the extramarital affair, the judge was found to have attended a partisan political event. Initially, the judge falsely denied the allegations, calling them outrageous and baseless. However, the judge later admitted wrongdoing and ended the relationship with the officer.
Private Reprimand Sparks Criticism
The Judicial Council of the 11th Judicial Circuit imposed a private reprimand in February, keeping the judge's name secret. The Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability of the Judicial Conference of the United States affirmed this order last week. Eric Segall, a law professor at Georgia State University, criticized the system, stating, "We need a lot of reform on who judges the judges when they act badly. Judges will protect judges."
Segall noted that federal judges have lifetime appointments and can only be removed through impeachment by Congress, arguing that public naming when disciplined is essential. "I'm not one who likes to publicly embarrass people, but what else can we do?" he said.
Factors Leading to Private Reprimand
The investigative committee reported that the judge initially denied the allegations but later spoke candidly about the misconduct and ended the relationship, making a repeat unlikely. These factors, along with the judge's otherwise exemplary service, led to a recommendation for a private reprimand rather than a public one. The judge also agreed to write apology letters to six former law clerks, refrain from becoming chief judge when eligible, and avoid serving on any Judicial Conference committee.
Segall emphasized that the misconduct remains an "elephant in the room" until the judge publicly acknowledges the mistake. "When you have a public position of deciding cases and controversies between adverse parties, your judgment and your character are very much in play," he said. "The very first thing I tell my students is all of you will make mistakes in practice. You own it, you admit to it, you try your best to fix it and only then is it possible to move on."
