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 then 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 dated Thursday to a former law clerk, obtained by The Associated Press, Ross expressed remorse for her actions, acknowledging that they were unequivocally wrong and inexcusable. She emphasized that her behavior had marred the experience of others and admitted that they deserved better treatment.
Nominated to the bench in the Northern District of Georgia in 2014 by former President Barack Obama, Ross received a private reprimand following the investigation’s confirmation of the allegations. She also agreed not to pursue the position of chief judge in the district when eligible and to issue apology letters to six former law clerks.
The investigation was sparked by a law clerk’s report indicating that the judge had engaged in sexual activities with a senior police officer in her chambers during working hours. Allegations of inadequate staff supervision and instances of verbal outbursts towards employees were also raised.
Despite initially denying the allegations and claims of attending a partisan event when first approached, Ross later admitted to the extramarital relationship with the officer. She refuted accusations of mistreating staff but acknowledged attending a gathering of former employees from a district attorney’s office where she previously worked, clarifying that it was held separately from a political party.
Ross expressed deep regret in letters to the law clerk and acknowledged her previous shortcomings in handling the situation. She vowed to take further steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
While federal judges serve lifetime appointments and can only be removed through congressional impeachment, two Georgia congressmen have filed impeachment resolutions against Ross. The House Judiciary Committee will decide whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings.