Kerry Johnson

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.

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.

Retirement stops any court investigation in its tracks. Often, a judge under scrutiny will keep their benefits and sometimes still show up at the courthouse. That's how things went down in the most notorious case in recent years.

Retirement stops any court investigation in its tracks. Often, a judge under scrutiny will keep their benefits and sometimes still show up at the courthouse. That's how things went down in the most notorious case in recent years.

Retirement stops any court investigation in its tracks. Often, a judge under scrutiny will keep their benefits and sometimes still show up at the courthouse. That's how things went down in the most notorious case in recent years.

Sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Alex Kaczynski rocked the federal courts in 2017. That followed a wave of MeToo complaints in Hollywood, the business world, media, and politics. Kaczynski apologized to his former clerks for making them feel uncomfortable. He said he had a, quote, broad sense of humor. But seven years after that scandal, Kaczynski's still working in the law.

Sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Alex Kaczynski rocked the federal courts in 2017. That followed a wave of MeToo complaints in Hollywood, the business world, media, and politics. Kaczynski apologized to his former clerks for making them feel uncomfortable. He said he had a, quote, broad sense of humor. But seven years after that scandal, Kaczynski's still working in the law.

Sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Alex Kaczynski rocked the federal courts in 2017. That followed a wave of MeToo complaints in Hollywood, the business world, media, and politics. Kaczynski apologized to his former clerks for making them feel uncomfortable. He said he had a, quote, broad sense of humor. But seven years after that scandal, Kaczynski's still working in the law.