Judge Eleanor Ross of the Northern District of Georgia has received a private reprimand following a judicial investigation into professional misconduct and deceptive statements.

喬治亞州北區法官 Eleanor Ross 在一次關於專業失職與欺騙性陳述的司法調查後，收到了一份私人譴責信。

The investigation was initiated by Chief Judge William Pryor after reports from law clerks alleged that Judge Ross engaged in sexual activity within her chambers during business hours. Evidence gathered by a special committee, including security logs and staff testimony, confirmed that Judge Ross maintained a two-year extramarital relationship with Atlanta Police Department Deputy Chief Kelley Collier. The committee noted that these encounters occurred on multiple occasions and were audible to staff, contributing to a workplace environment described by clerks as 'unsettling.'

此次調查是由首席法官 William Pryor 發起的，因為有法庭書記報告指稱 Ross 法官在辦公時間於其辦公室內發生性行為。特別委員會搜集的證據，包括保安紀錄與職員證詞，證實了 Ross 法官與亞特蘭大警察局副局長 Kelley Collier 維持了兩年的婚外情。委員會指出，這些行為多次發生且職員可聞，導致書記形容為「令人不安」的工作環境。

Beyond the interpersonal misconduct, the inquiry addressed the judge's adherence to judicial ethics. Evidence indicated that Judge Ross attended a partisan political event, subsequently attributing her inability to mentor interns to the consumption of alcohol at said event. Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the judge's initial response to the allegations; Judge Ross initially denied the claims and characterized them as 'outrageous,' later suggesting that the reporting clerk was acting in retaliation. This subsequent recantation of false statements was a critical factor in the disciplinary proceedings.

除了人際關係上的失職，調查也探討了該法官對司法倫理的遵守情況。證據顯示 Ross 法官參加了一場黨派政治活動，隨後將自己無法指導實習生歸咎於在該活動中飲酒。此外，調查審視了法官最初對指控的反應；Ross 法官起初否認指控並將其形容為「離譜」，隨後暗示舉報的書記是在採取報復行動。其隨後撤回虛假陳述這一點，是紀律處分程序中的關鍵因素。

Regarding the institutional impact, the committee found no evidence of abusive behavior, though it noted a deficiency in the substantive editing of civil orders. To mitigate the damage to the judiciary's integrity, Judge Ross agreed to several restrictive measures: the issuance of apology letters to six former clerks, a waiver of her eligibility for the position of chief judge, and a commitment to refrain from serving on Judicial Conference committees. Despite the gravity of the conduct, the Judicial Council of the 11th Judicial Circuit and the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability affirmed a private reprimand, citing the judge's overall record of service and her demonstrated propensity for rehabilitation.

關於對制度的影響，委員會發現沒有證據顯示有虐待行為，但注意到民事命令的實質編輯存在不足。為了減輕對司法公正性造成的損害，Ross 法官同意採取幾項限制措施：向六名前書記發出道歉信、放棄競選首席法官的資格，以及承諾不擔任司法會議委員會成員。儘管行為嚴重，但第 11 司法巡迴區司法委員會與司法行為及失能委員會最終認定予以私人譴責，理由是考量到該法官整體的服務紀錄及其表現出的悔改意願。

Judge Ross remains on the bench under a private reprimand, having agreed to professional restrictions and the cessation of the relationship with Deputy Chief Collier.

Ross 法官在私人譴責下繼續留任，並同意接受專業限制，以及停止與副局長 Collier 的關係。