Judge Eleanor Ross Apologizes to 6 Clerks After Probe Found Sex in Chambers and False Denials
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 16
Judge Eleanor Ross Apologizes to 6 Clerks After Probe Found Sex in Chambers and False Denials
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 16
Summary
A June 11 letter shows U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross apologizing to a former law clerk for “harmful, offensive, and unprofessional behavior” and for falsely accusing the clerk of inventing allegations.
The apology followed an 11th Circuit investigation that found Ross had sex with a high-ranking uniformed police officer in her chambers during work hours, attended a partisan event and initially denied both allegations.
A special committee said security logs and footage showed the officer frequently visiting around lunchtime, while six clerks identified him and three recalled overhearing possible sexual activity from the judge’s office.
Ross received a private reprimand, agreed not to seek the district’s chief judgeship and to send apology letters to six former clerks; the committee did not substantiate abusive treatment of staff.
Federal judges can be removed only by Congress, and two Georgia lawmakers have now filed separate impeachment resolutions that the House Judiciary Committee must decide whether to pursue.
A federal judge admitted to serious misconduct but keeps her job. Can impeachment still serve as a real check on power?
After a judge's scandal earned only a private reprimand, is the judicial accountability system fundamentally broken?
Impeachment of Judge Eleanor Ross: Scandal, Judicial Misconduct, and the Push for Federal Accountability in 2026
Overview
In June 2026, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross faced formal impeachment efforts after Georgia Republican Congressmen Clay Fuller and Andrew Clyde filed resolutions against her. This move followed widespread dissatisfaction with a previous private reprimand for her alleged misconduct, which critics—especially conservatives—felt was too lenient. The impeachment articles are expected to focus on incidents showing a lack of judicial decorum, such as Judge Ross admitting to interns that she had consumed too many martinis the night before an important event. These developments highlight growing concerns about accountability and professionalism within the federal judiciary.