A federal judge in the United States, who faced disciplinary action for engaging in a sexual relationship with a police officer in her chambers and subsequently lying about it, has issued an apology for her inappropriate and unprofessional conduct. The investigation, initiated by the chief judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit, revealed that US District Judge Eleanor Ross had been involved in sexual activities with a high-ranking uniformed police officer at the courthouse, attended a political event, and initially denied the accusations when confronted.
In a letter addressed to a former law clerk and obtained by The Associated Press, Ross expressed remorse for her actions, acknowledging the inexcusable nature of her behavior and the negative impact it had on others. Ross, nominated to the bench in the Northern District of Georgia in 2014 by former President Barack Obama, admitted to the wrongdoing and expressed regret for tarnishing the experience of those affected by her actions.
Following a report by a law clerk alleging sexual encounters with a senior police officer in her chambers during working hours, the investigation confirmed the allegations. Ross received a private reprimand and agreed not to pursue the position of chief judge of the district when eligible, in addition to issuing apology letters to six former law clerks.
The investigation, led by Chief Judge William Pryor of the 11th Circuit, disclosed instances of the officer visiting the judge’s chambers during lunchtime, with testimonies from clerks who witnessed potential inappropriate behavior. While Ross admitted to the extramarital relationship with the officer, she denied mistreating staff members. The committee found no evidence of abusive conduct but noted shortcomings in supervision and guidance provided to clerks.
Ross extended her apologies to the clerk for false accusations and acknowledged her previous inadequate apology, vowing to take further steps to prevent such incidents from recurring. Calls for Ross’s impeachment have been made by two Georgia congressmen, leaving the decision in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee to determine whether impeachment proceedings should proceed.
