Georgia Republican Lawmakers File Impeachment Resolutions Against Judge Privately Reprimanded for Workplace Sexual Misconduct

Rep. U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross. The articles cite alleged high crimes and misdemeanors, including sexual activity in the workplace and attendance at a political event hosted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Rep. Clay Fuller, also a Georgia Republican, filed a similar impeachment resolution against Judge Ross one day earlier.

U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. A judicial council issued a private reprimand of an unnamed judge last month in a lengthy order. The order described the judge having sex in chambers with a high-ranking police officer during business hours while clerks could hear, then making false statements about the incident to judicial superiors.

The reprimanded judge initially cast doubt on the account of law clerks who served as witnesses and later took that back. The punishment required apologies to a half dozen law clerks and an agreement never to serve as chief judge. Ninth Circuit Appeals Court Judge Ryan Nelson pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge this week.

The charge stems from an April parking lot confrontation captured on video in which Nelson allegedly grabbed a motorist's glasses and stomped on them. The incident went unreported publicly for months while Nelson continued to hear cases. Chief Ninth Circuit Judge Mary Murguia launched an investigation into Nelson on Monday, noting that all information about the incident was only very recently received by the courts.

Curtis Smith, Nelson's lawyer, said Nelson is embarrassed by the incident, that it is out of character, and that Nelson immediately offered an apology and full compensation for the sunglasses. U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington faced arraignment this week after failing to undergo required alcohol testing as part of his probation.

Ludington took paid leave this year after being arrested for driving under the influence and later pleaded no contest to a lesser misdemeanor charge. Jonathan Steffy, Ludington's lawyer, said Ludington is making every effort at compliance with all court orders and that current tests show complete and continued sobriety.

Fifteen federal judges have been impeached and eight have been removed from office, according to Gabe Roth of Fix the Court.

U.S. District Judge Joshua Kindred resigned two years ago after an internal investigation found he sent crude messages to employees, had sexual contact with a former clerk, and lied about it. Jeremy Fogel, a retired judge who leads the Berkeley Judicial Institute, said when judges act badly, even in their private lives, it reflects badly on everyone else.

The code of conduct for federal judges requires them to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and avoid impropriety or even the appearance of improper behavior in all activities.