Kerry Johnson

But hard data about misconduct in the court system can be hard to come by. For example, no one tracks that first step we mentioned, the informal advice.

A report in November did show that more court employees are using the dispute resolution process, but few of them are law clerks. There are more than 1,400 federal judges with life tenure, and they each have at least two clerks. Just seven complaints came from law clerks between 2021 and 2023. But the federal courts interpret that low number to mean something different.

A report in November did show that more court employees are using the dispute resolution process, but few of them are law clerks. There are more than 1,400 federal judges with life tenure, and they each have at least two clerks. Just seven complaints came from law clerks between 2021 and 2023. But the federal courts interpret that low number to mean something different.

A report in November did show that more court employees are using the dispute resolution process, but few of them are law clerks. There are more than 1,400 federal judges with life tenure, and they each have at least two clerks. Just seven complaints came from law clerks between 2021 and 2023. But the federal courts interpret that low number to mean something different.

I asked Aliza Schatzman about that. Just a few months ago, the head of the administrative office of the U.S. courts, Judge Robert Conrad, came out and said the numbers of complaints filed by law clerks, EDR complaints, is very low, which to him means that they have kind of a middle manager problem in the judiciary. And it's not the judges. What do you take that data to mean?

I asked Aliza Schatzman about that. Just a few months ago, the head of the administrative office of the U.S. courts, Judge Robert Conrad, came out and said the numbers of complaints filed by law clerks, EDR complaints, is very low, which to him means that they have kind of a middle manager problem in the judiciary. And it's not the judges. What do you take that data to mean?

I asked Aliza Schatzman about that. Just a few months ago, the head of the administrative office of the U.S. courts, Judge Robert Conrad, came out and said the numbers of complaints filed by law clerks, EDR complaints, is very low, which to him means that they have kind of a middle manager problem in the judiciary. And it's not the judges. What do you take that data to mean?

The clerk in Alaska, for example, never used the judiciary system to report Judge Kindred. She says she didn't know it existed. And that's not uncommon. A national research study last year found many federal courts failed to put required information on reporting misconduct on their websites. Here's retired Judge Jamie Baker.

The clerk in Alaska, for example, never used the judiciary system to report Judge Kindred. She says she didn't know it existed. And that's not uncommon. A national research study last year found many federal courts failed to put required information on reporting misconduct on their websites. Here's retired Judge Jamie Baker.

The clerk in Alaska, for example, never used the judiciary system to report Judge Kindred. She says she didn't know it existed. And that's not uncommon. A national research study last year found many federal courts failed to put required information on reporting misconduct on their websites. Here's retired Judge Jamie Baker.

One person, a former coordinator, told me there are a lot of people trying to help and do the right thing. But they told me it was a struggle to get information updated on the court's website, so clerks could find out who they can talk to. if they have the courage to speak. Even this coordinator was afraid to talk because of possible reprisal for talking about the courts.

One person, a former coordinator, told me there are a lot of people trying to help and do the right thing. But they told me it was a struggle to get information updated on the court's website, so clerks could find out who they can talk to. if they have the courage to speak. Even this coordinator was afraid to talk because of possible reprisal for talking about the courts.

One person, a former coordinator, told me there are a lot of people trying to help and do the right thing. But they told me it was a struggle to get information updated on the court's website, so clerks could find out who they can talk to. if they have the courage to speak. Even this coordinator was afraid to talk because of possible reprisal for talking about the courts.

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.