Federal Judge Gets Slap On Wrist After Chambers Sex Scandal With Police Officer

A federal judge received only a “private reprimand” after admitting to having sex with a high-ranking law enforcement officer within judicial chambers and within “hearing distance” of court staff. 

The body that oversees disciplinary complaints against federal judges affirmed a lower panel finding that a federal judge in the Atlanta-based Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals engaged “in an extramarital affair with a high-ranking law enforcement officer” and had “sexual intercourse in the judge’s chambers during business hours within hearing distance of staff.”

The decision from the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability found that the judge also lied about the relationship to investigators and attended a partisan political event in violation of court guidelines. Investigators did not reveal the name of the sanctioned judge, who only received a slap on the wrist for the actions. 

After a clerk reported hearing “kissing sounds and other noises consistent with intimate activity” and “sounds of moaning” coming from judicial chambers, an investigation was launched in September 2025. That investigation involved a forensic test on “one of the cushions on a sofa in the Subject Judge’s chambers” because it “was stained in a manner that was consistent with being caused by semen.” The test later came back negative.

Both the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability and the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit substantiated the findings that over the course of two years, the judge had sex with the officer in violation of judicial rules of conduct. They also found that the judge lied about the relationship when first confronted by investigators and attended a blatantly political event for a person running for district attorney. These actions made the judge vulnerable to extortion and blackmail, the Judicial Council said.

Investigators also said that the judge did not oversee any cases directly involving the law enforcement officer.

The only disciplinary actions the judge received were a private reprimand, an order to write apology letters to former clerks, plus a ban on becoming chief judge and serving on any Judicial Conference committee. 

The Judicial Council said it did not recommend a more “severe sanction” because the judge “corrected the false statements” and was “candid” after being caught lying, the relationship with the officer had ended, the judge promised to attend no more partisan political events, and the judge had otherwise rendered exemplary service to the court.”

That decision not to give a more severe punishment was affirmed by the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability, with the panel saying the punishment was “appropriate and proportional.” 

The investigation into the judge entailed numerous interviews, reviewing security footage, checking over visitor sign-in logs, and reviewing court documents.