A federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama is facing renewed scrutiny after a judicial misconduct report described inappropriate conduct that allegedly occurred inside her chambers during a personal relationship with a police official.
According to the report, Eleanor Ross, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, received a private reprimand following an investigation into a relationship with an unidentified police department commander.
The judicial committee concluded that the relationship created what it described as a “conflict-of-interest risk” and resulted in an uncomfortable work environment for court staff.
According to findings outlined in the report, the relationship lasted from 2023 through 2025.
Investigators stated that Ross engaged in sexual activity inside judicial chambers during business hours and that some incidents allegedly occurred within earshot of employees.
The report described the conduct as demonstrating “a gross lack of judgment.”
In addition to concerns surrounding the relationship itself, investigators reportedly found that Ross attended a partisan political event connected to a district attorney’s campaign, raising additional ethical concerns regarding judicial impartiality.
The committee also concluded that Ross made false statements during portions of the misconduct investigation, according to the report.
Ross, 58, was nominated to the federal bench by Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2014.
Before becoming a federal judge, she served as a prosecutor and state court judge in Georgia.
The controversy gained additional public attention after reality television personality Todd Chrisley commented on the allegations.
Chrisley, who appeared before Ross during his 2022 criminal case involving bank fraud, tax evasion and wire fraud convictions, publicly criticized the judge after details of the report resurfaced, per Trending Politics.
Ross sentenced Chrisley to prison following his conviction, though President Donald Trump later granted him a pardon.
“This corrupt judge who couldn’t focus on our case because she was too busy clapping dem cheeks in her chambers … she needs to be impeached,” Chrisley wrote on social media.
The misconduct findings were affirmed in a May 22 order by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council.
While the report reportedly did not initially identify Ross by name, subsequent reporting connected her to the findings.
At this stage, the discipline imposed appears to be administrative rather than criminal.
The allegations involve judicial ethics and workplace conduct rather than criminal charges.
However, the report has fueled criticism from those who argue that federal judges should face greater accountability when accused of ethical violations.
