Federal judge reprimanded over affair, political event attendance

A judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit, which includes Alabama, Florida and Georgia, had an affair with a high-ranking police officer, including having sex in the judge’s chamber. The judge also lied about the actions when first questioned.

The judge received a “private reprimand” for the actions, according to an investigation by the court system.

The judge’s name and court location was not disclosed.

The investigation found that the judge had sexual intercourse with an unidentified officer in the judge’s chambers during business hours and within earshot of staff. The judge also attended a partisan political event.

The Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability of the Judicial Conference of the United States took into account that the judge recanted the false statements, ended the relationship with the law enforcement officer and committed to avoid partisan political events in the future. The committee also considered the judge’s “otherwise exemplary service to the court.”

Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Justice has asked U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross to recuse herself from overseeing an election case over alleged ties to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, according to the Associated Press.

The Justice Department is relying on media reports to tie Ross to the judicial misconduct investigation, and Ross has not publicly commented on the allegations.

The case involves the legal battle between the Justice Department and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over access to statewide voter records.