Three sitting judges in three different states are facing serious misconduct allegations this week, drawing new scrutiny to the system that polices behavior on the federal bench.
In Georgia, a Republican lawmaker filed articles of impeachment Tuesday against an Atlanta judge who allegedly had sex in her chambers and then denied it to investigators, only to change her account when they developed evidence otherwise, according to a report by NPR.
In Idaho, Ninth Circuit Appeals Court Judge Ryan Nelson pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. The incident, captured on video and obtained by the Idaho State Journal, occurred in April. Nelson allegedly grabbed a motorist's glasses and stomped on them during a parking lot dispute. The incident went unreported publicly for months while Nelson continued to hear cases.
Curtis Smith, a lawyer for Nelson, said he is "embarrassed by this incident." Smith added: "It is out of character and does not represent how he behaves. Immediately afterwards, Mr. Nelson reached out and offered an apology and full compensation for the sunglasses. He intends to continue to work through the proper process."
This week, Chief Ninth Circuit Judge Mary Murguia launched her own investigation. In an order Monday, Murguia said she was publicly disclosing the probe as part of a commitment to maintain public confidence in the judiciary's ability to address misconduct.
In Michigan, U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington was arraigned after state law enforcement said he failed to undergo required alcohol testing as part of his probation. Ludington had been on paid leave since a reporter at The Detroit News revealed he had been arrested for driving under the influence. He pleaded not guilty to violating his probation terms.
Jeremy Fogel, a retired judge who now leads the Berkeley Judicial Institute, said the cases carry consequences beyond the individuals involved.
"When judges act badly, even in their private lives, it reflects badly on everyone else," Fogel said. "The focus in all three of these cases has to be the larger reputation of the judiciary and not just these three individual people."
The code of conduct for federal judges requires them to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and avoid impropriety, or even the appearance of improper behavior, in all activities.
