The U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability has upheld a reprimand of an unnamed federal judge after investigators concluded the judge had sexual encounters with a uniformed police officer in chambers during business hours. The judge, who initially denied the allegations in September 2025, later admitted through counsel in October 2025 that an affair had lasted about two years. Disciplinary measures bar the judge from serving as chief judge or on Judicial Conference committees and require an apology to former law clerks; the judge also attended a district attorney campaign event, raising additional ethics concerns.
Federal Judge’s Reprimand Upheld After Investigation Finds Multiple Sexual Encounters With Uniformed Officer In Chambers
Judge's gavel
A federal district judge has had a formal reprimand upheld after investigators concluded the judge engaged in sexual encounters with a uniformed police officer in the judge’s chambers on multiple occasions during business hours.
What the Investigation Found
The U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability on Friday affirmed a reprimand originally issued by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel found that the judge had an extramarital affair with a uniformed police officer and had sexual encounters in chambers during official working hours. The judge is married but not to the officer; neither the judge’s nor the officer’s names have been publicly disclosed.
Disciplinary Actions
The disciplinary action prohibits the judge from serving as chief judge and from participating on Judicial Conference committees. The judge was also ordered to apologize to former law clerks who were interviewed as part of the inquiry.
Timeline And Related Findings
The investigation was launched after a law clerk reported the conduct. When confronted in September 2025 by Chief U.S. Circuit Judge William Pryor, the judge initially denied the allegations. Pryor then appointed a special committee to investigate. Through counsel in October 2025 the judge recanted the denials and admitted to an affair that the committee determined had lasted roughly two years.
The investigative panel also determined the judge knowingly attended a political campaign event for a district attorney and had made false statements by calling the initial accusations “baseless” and “outrageous.”
Conflict-Of-Interest Concerns
The officer’s police department was involved in numerous criminal and civil matters at the time of the affair. The panel found that the judge was not assigned any cases involving that department or the officer by happenstance, but emphasized the appearance of impropriety can undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
Remaining Questions
Officials have not disclosed which federal district court the judge serves on. The 11th Circuit hears appeals from federal district courts in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Mediaite first reported the case; Reuters provided additional reporting cited by the investigative panel.
Why It Matters
Judicial conduct rules require judges to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety, including participation in political events for candidates. The committee’s decision to uphold the reprimand underscores the judiciary’s focus on maintaining public trust and impartiality.
Sources: U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Mediaite, Reuters.
Help us improve.
