Kerry Johnson

Inside those chambers, the judge's word is law, and Horton fell in line. She worried so much about missing work that she told the doctor she wanted to avoid a C-section because of the recovery time. She refused an epidural, too. because she had read about complications with them.

Horton ended up back at work for an event 11 days after her first child was born.

Horton ended up back at work for an event 11 days after her first child was born.

Horton ended up back at work for an event 11 days after her first child was born.

She returned to work fighting infections and bullying from another clerk in the chambers. Her clerkship lasted a year, and leaving wasn't a possibility in her mind.

She returned to work fighting infections and bullying from another clerk in the chambers. Her clerkship lasted a year, and leaving wasn't a possibility in her mind.

She returned to work fighting infections and bullying from another clerk in the chambers. Her clerkship lasted a year, and leaving wasn't a possibility in her mind.

She started counting down the days.

She started counting down the days.

She started counting down the days.

Starting out, Horton had been so excited about learning from the judge, having a mentor, maybe someday becoming a judge herself.

Starting out, Horton had been so excited about learning from the judge, having a mentor, maybe someday becoming a judge herself.

Starting out, Horton had been so excited about learning from the judge, having a mentor, maybe someday becoming a judge herself.

Her son is now nine years old. Sometimes they drive by the courthouse and she reminds him that's where he slept underneath her desk as a baby. Horton decided to talk to me on the record, in part because she's left the legal profession, and things can get pretty tough for clerks who speak out.

Her son is now nine years old. Sometimes they drive by the courthouse and she reminds him that's where he slept underneath her desk as a baby. Horton decided to talk to me on the record, in part because she's left the legal profession, and things can get pretty tough for clerks who speak out.

Her son is now nine years old. Sometimes they drive by the courthouse and she reminds him that's where he slept underneath her desk as a baby. Horton decided to talk to me on the record, in part because she's left the legal profession, and things can get pretty tough for clerks who speak out.

When the Alaska clerk reported the assault, she told a colleague who had been assigned to mentor her, but that mentor said she also had been coerced.

When the Alaska clerk reported the assault, she told a colleague who had been assigned to mentor her, but that mentor said she also had been coerced.

When the Alaska clerk reported the assault, she told a colleague who had been assigned to mentor her, but that mentor said she also had been coerced.

Her mentor later said the judge's power and authority contributed to the pressure she felt, and he told her he would have sway over a job she wanted. The former clerk heard from friends the judge was furious she'd told anyone. When she ran into him in the hallway at the courthouse, she says he warned her to keep her head down and shut up.