This week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) wrote a letter to James Duff, Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, concerning efforts to better protect employees in the Judiciary from inappropriate workplace conduct. The letter requests a bipartisan briefing to review the reforms already instituted and those currently under development by the Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group, which the Administrative Office heads.
“Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any setting, including in the highest courts in the land,” said Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Nadler of the House Judiciary Committee. “We were pleased to hear Chief Justice John Roberts address accusations of sexual harassment by federal judges in his annual State of the Courts address, but we must ensure that work continues. As Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, we have a responsibility to oversee the Sexual Harassment Working Group formed by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to ensure it is taking appropriate steps to address these accusations and develop new policies and procedures to prevent them in the future. We look forward to hearing from the AO and will continue to work together in a bipartisan manner to create a safe and fair working environment within the U.S. Court System.”