Kerry Johnson

And then there's inaction. Before the court started to develop more formal systems for reporting abuse seven years ago, and even to this day, clerks are left to figure out a solution for themselves. That's what happened many years ago with a woman who would only use her initial S. S worked for a federal judge in Puerto Rico just out of law school.

And then there's inaction. Before the court started to develop more formal systems for reporting abuse seven years ago, and even to this day, clerks are left to figure out a solution for themselves. That's what happened many years ago with a woman who would only use her initial S. S worked for a federal judge in Puerto Rico just out of law school.

And then there's inaction. Before the court started to develop more formal systems for reporting abuse seven years ago, and even to this day, clerks are left to figure out a solution for themselves. That's what happened many years ago with a woman who would only use her initial S. S worked for a federal judge in Puerto Rico just out of law school.

Things like that happened quite a few times, she says.

Things like that happened quite a few times, she says.

Things like that happened quite a few times, she says.

Judge Jose Antonio Fuste copied down a love poem and left it at her desk. S says she struggled with her options, including whether to leave the job early. Eventually, a new law clerk arrived, and the judge made advances to her, too.

Judge Jose Antonio Fuste copied down a love poem and left it at her desk. S says she struggled with her options, including whether to leave the job early. Eventually, a new law clerk arrived, and the judge made advances to her, too.

Judge Jose Antonio Fuste copied down a love poem and left it at her desk. S says she struggled with her options, including whether to leave the job early. Eventually, a new law clerk arrived, and the judge made advances to her, too.

Together, she and the other clerk developed some strategies for handling the judge, their boss.

Together, she and the other clerk developed some strategies for handling the judge, their boss.

Together, she and the other clerk developed some strategies for handling the judge, their boss.

S says she and her fellow clerk, diligent young attorneys just out of law school, dug into legal research about sexual harassment and the ramifications of making a complaint about a federal judge. Ultimately, they've reached out to administrators in the appeals court for the First Circuit.

S says she and her fellow clerk, diligent young attorneys just out of law school, dug into legal research about sexual harassment and the ramifications of making a complaint about a federal judge. Ultimately, they've reached out to administrators in the appeals court for the First Circuit.

S says she and her fellow clerk, diligent young attorneys just out of law school, dug into legal research about sexual harassment and the ramifications of making a complaint about a federal judge. Ultimately, they've reached out to administrators in the appeals court for the First Circuit.

NPR could not independently confirm if the complaint reached the chief justice or what happened after that. Still, the judge remained on the bench for years. Until 2016, when he resigned after another clerk reported him to administrators. Judge Fustay did not respond to NPR's attempts to reach him for comment.

NPR could not independently confirm if the complaint reached the chief justice or what happened after that. Still, the judge remained on the bench for years. Until 2016, when he resigned after another clerk reported him to administrators. Judge Fustay did not respond to NPR's attempts to reach him for comment.

NPR could not independently confirm if the complaint reached the chief justice or what happened after that. Still, the judge remained on the bench for years. Until 2016, when he resigned after another clerk reported him to administrators. Judge Fustay did not respond to NPR's attempts to reach him for comment.

All these years later, the news of his retirement reached S., who's still afraid of the damage it could cause her career if she identifies herself by name. She was afraid to record with me using her own voice, so we found someone else to speak her words on tape verbatim.

All these years later, the news of his retirement reached S., who's still afraid of the damage it could cause her career if she identifies herself by name. She was afraid to record with me using her own voice, so we found someone else to speak her words on tape verbatim.