Judges who interpret our laws should be held to the highest ethical standards. But right now, they’re held to none.

Georgia federal Judge Eleanor Ross received a “private reprimand” for having sex with a law enforcement officer in chambers over a two-year period, in earshot of clerks, and lying about it. The facts are salacious; the misconduct, egregious. But more important are the larger issues this illustrates—an outrageous lack of transparency and accountability in the courts; the judiciary’s inability or unwillingness to “self-police”; and Congress’ refusal to conduct oversight, pass legislation, or cut judiciary funding to check a lawless co-equal branch. Life-tenured judges hold positions of public trust, yet they’re never held accountable for consuming taxpayer dollars while violating that trust.

In September 2025, after a law clerk reported misconduct to the chief district court judge, Ross initially lied about it. When confronted with the allegations, she denied them and blamed her law clerk, claiming the clerk made it up in retaliation for a poor performance review. She later recanted. After a forensic investigation and interviews with six clerks, the 11th Circuit Judicial Council issued a toothless private reprimand: Judge Ross was initially shielded from accountability, her identity shielded from public scrutiny.

Ross’ troubling lack of candor—something she disciplines witnesses for in her courtroom—is particularly threatening to judicial integrity and disqualifying for judicial service. Why should litigants and witnesses tell the truth if the judge cannot even tell the truth? Ross has been entrusted to judge others’ veracity, yet her own candor is in question.

As usual, the toothless punishment did not fit the crime: Ross apologized to clerks and agreed not to serve as chief judge or on a judicial........

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