NPR - Federal judges have a lot of power over the people who work for them, including law clerks, who report a real culture of fear. For over a year, NPR’s Carrie Johnson dug into the federal judiciary and spoke with dozens of current and former clerks about their experiences. Through her conversations, she discovered problems with 50 judges across 26 states.
The complaints ranged from sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination to bullying, Johnson says. A judge’s control over a law clerk extends to nearly every aspect of the clerk’s life, including when and how they leave their jobs. The Administrative Office of the Courts, which sets policy nationwide, says it has done a lot over the past seven years to improve the workplace and is considering more changes. Currently, court employees are not subject to certain civil rights laws, meaning they are not able to sue like other American workers. This can make them fearful of retaliation for speaking up.
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