Sexual Misconduct By Federal Judges: The Secret System That Protects Them

Federal judges are supposed to be held to a higher standard of conduct than the rest of us. They are, after all, the ones who interpret the law and hand down sentences. But when it comes to sexual misconduct, the federal judiciary has a long and troubled history.

In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases of federal judges being accused of sexual misconduct. In 2018, for example, Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was accused of groping and making lewd comments to female law clerks. Kozinski eventually resigned from his position, but he was never charged with a crime.

Code of Silence: Sexual Misconduct by Federal Judges, the Secret System That Protects Them, and the Women Who Blew the Whistle

by Lise Olsen

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	967 KB
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Kozinski's case is just one of many. A 2017 study by the Government Accountability Office found that there were 236 allegations of sexual misconduct against federal judges between 1990 and 2016. Of those allegations, only 16 resulted in criminal charges, and only 5 judges were convicted.

So what's going on? Why are federal judges so often able to get away with sexual misconduct?

There are a number of reasons. First, the federal judiciary is a very secretive institution. Judges are not subject to the same public scrutiny as other public officials, and they are often able to keep their misconduct hidden from the public.

Second, the federal judiciary is very powerful. Judges have the authority to issue injunctions, dismiss cases, and even sentence people to prison. This power can be used to intimidate victims of sexual misconduct into silence.

Third, the federal judiciary is very insular. Judges are often friends and colleagues, and they are reluctant to discipline each other.

As a result of these factors, there is a deeply ingrained culture of impunity within the federal judiciary. Judges know that they are unlikely to be held accountable for their misconduct, and this makes them more likely to engage in it.

The consequences of this culture of impunity are devastating. Victims of sexual misconduct are denied justice, and the public's trust in the judiciary is undermined.

It is time for the federal judiciary to change. The culture of impunity must end, and judges must be held accountable for their misconduct.

Here are some specific reforms that are needed:

• The federal judiciary should be made more transparent. Judges should be required to disclose their financial interests and their relationships with lawyers and other parties who appear before them.
• The federal judiciary should be made more accountable. Judges should be subject to the same ethical standards as other public officials, and they should be held accountable for violating those standards.
• The federal judiciary should be made more diverse. The current judiciary is overwhelmingly white and male, and this lack of diversity contributes to the culture of impunity.

These reforms are essential to restoring public trust in the federal judiciary. They will help to ensure that judges are held accountable for their misconduct and that victims of sexual misconduct are able to get justice.

Sexual misconduct by federal judges is a serious problem that undermines the public's trust in the judiciary. There is a deeply ingrained culture of impunity within the federal judiciary, and this must end. The federal judiciary must be made more transparent, more accountable, and more diverse. These reforms are essential to restoring public trust in the federal judiciary and ensuring that victims of sexual misconduct are able to get justice.

Call to Action

If you have been the victim of sexual misconduct by a federal judge, please contact the following resources:

• The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
• The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

You can also get help online at the following websites:

• RAINN
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline

Please know that you are not alone. There are people who care about you and want to help.

Code of Silence: Sexual Misconduct by Federal Judges, the Secret System That Protects Them, and the Women Who Blew the Whistle

by Lise Olsen

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	967 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	288 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE