A federal judicial conduct panel has concluded that a sitting district judge engaged in a years-long extramarital relationship with a high-ranking law enforcement officer that included sexual activity inside the judge’s chambers during working hours, according to newly released disciplinary findings.
The report also cites allegations of workplace disruption, false statements during an internal investigation, and attendance at a partisan political event.
The Eleventh Circuit’s special committee found the relationship lasted roughly two years and involved repeated sexual encounters in chambers while court staff were present nearby.
Investigators said the conduct contributed to a workplace environment described as “extremely uncomfortable and troubling” for law clerks assigned to the judge’s office, according to Bloomberg Law.
The report states that on multiple occasions during business hours, the judge and the law enforcement officer engaged in sexual activity inside chambers, according to the committee findings.
The judge, who has not been publicly identified, serves within the Eleventh Circuit, which covers federal courts in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
The misconduct review began after a complaint was raised by a former law clerk and later referred for formal investigation, News 6 reported.
Investigators interviewed multiple former clerks and reviewed security footage, visitor logs, and internal court records as part of the inquiry.
The review also included testing in a reconstructed chambers environment to determine whether sounds from inside the office could be heard outside by staff.
Several clerks reported hearing disturbing sounds during the officer’s visits, including what they described as kissing and other audible activity.
Investigators also examined physical evidence from furniture in chambers, though laboratory testing reportedly returned negative results for biological material.
The committee found the judge failed to disclose the relationship despite repeated visits by the officer to chambers during working hours.
Investigators also noted the officer’s department appeared in cases before the court during the period of the relationship, raising potential conflict-of-interest concerns.
Although no cases were identified in which the judge directly presided over matters involving the officer or their department, the report said this was the result of “happenstance” rather than any formal safeguards taken by the judge.
The report further concluded the undisclosed relationship created potential vulnerabilities, including risks of coercion or extortion, particularly because the judge’s spouse was unaware of the affair.
In addition to the relationship allegations, investigators found the judge attended a partisan political event tied to a district attorney’s campaign and made false statements during the early stages of the investigation.
The judge initially denied the allegations, calling them “outrageous” and “baseless,” before later acknowledging the misconduct, according to CNBC.
“Specifically, the subject judge denied engaging in sexual intercourse in the courthouse and denied knowing who the allegation concerned,” the committee findings stated.
The disciplinary process resulted in a private reprimand rather than public sanctions.
The judge agreed to write apology letters to affected law clerks, step away from serving as chief judge in the future, and refrain from participating in Judicial Conference committees.
The committee said it declined to impose harsher penalties due to the judge’s cooperation, correction of false statements, and belief that the conduct was unlikely to recur.
Officials also cited the judge’s prior service on the bench as a mitigating factor.
“Although the special committee is deeply troubled by the conduct in which the judge engaged, the Subject Judge has demonstrated a strong propensity for rehabilitation and continued diligent service to the judiciary,” the report concluded.
The case has drawn attention following affirmation by the Judicial Conference’s misconduct and disability committee, which upheld the findings and formally closed the matter while keeping the judge’s identity confidential.
