Second Misconduct Complaint in Four Years Against CT U.S. Circuit Judge
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with the Connecticut Insider about a new judicial misconduct complaint against New Haven native and federal appeals court Judge Sarah Merriam, alleging a pattern of bullying and hostile treatment toward former law clerks, including yelling, demeaning emails, and unpredictable outbursts.
Advocacy group accuses US appeals court judge of mistreating law clerks
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with Reuters about LAP’s first judicial misconduct complaint filed against Second Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam.
Clerks accuse CT U.S. Circuit judge of 'intimidation, humiliation, and bullying' - again
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with the Hartford Courant about LAP’s first judicial misconduct complaint filed against Second Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam, who sits in Connecticut.
Group Files Complaint Against 2nd Circuit Judge, Alleges Mistreatment of Clerks
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with Law.com about LAP’s first judicial misconduct complaint, filed against Second Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam.
Judge Accused of Bullying Clerks, Creating ‘Culture of Fear’
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with Bloomberg Law about LAP’s first judicial misconduct complaint, filed against Second Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam—thereby circumventing both congressional intransigence and judicial branch inaction.
Federal appeals court judge is accused of bullying her clerks
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with NPR’s Carrie Johnson about LAP’s first judicial misconduct complaint filed against Second Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam.
Democrats Won The PA Supreme Court (Again)
LAP’s Aliza Shatzman on the significance of Pennsylvania’s 2025 Supreme Court judicial retention victories in The Philadelphia Citizen.
Democrats Retain Control of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court with Three-Seat Sweep
LAP’s Aliza Shatzman discusses the importance of Pennsylvania’s judicial retention victories with Bolts Magazine.
Inside the Clunky Elections to Control Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court
LAP’s Aliza Shatzman discusses the significance of Pennsylvania’s upcoming judicial elections in Bolts Magazine.
Federal judges are, too often, ‘above the law.’ We can stop it.
Trump administration lawlessness is enraging, but judicial misconduct makes me just as angry, LAP’s Aliza Shatzman argues in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Nixing 'Loophole' May Keep Judges Accountable Or On Bench
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman, one of the advocates behind the TRUST Act, spoke with Law360 about the bill, which would close the legal loophole that currently allows judge to step down to avoid discipline for misconduct.
Judges often quit to avoid misconduct investigations. A new bill in Congress would stop that.
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with Business Insider about the TRUST Act, a newly-introduced bill to close the disturbing loophole that currently allows judge to step down to evade accountability for misconduct.
Federal Judicial Clerks are Vulnerable to Workplace Woes
LAP’s Clerkships Database is an essential legal tool for law students and prospective clerks to make informed career decisions. Clerkship applicants would be well advised to utilize it during their job searches, writes a Georgetown student in the GJLE.
Judiciary employee survey shows general job happiness, but a reluctance to report workplace misconduct
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with CNN about the federal judiciary’s recently-released workplace conduct report, which underscores that employees do not report misconduct to the federal courts because they do not believe their complaints will be robustly, impartially investigated.
In the federal court system, law clerks find little recourse for bullying and abuse
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with NPR’s Carrie Johnson as part of NPR’s nearly year-long investigation into harassment in the federal judiciary.
Above The Law's Official 2024 Lawyer Of The Year Brought Meaningful Change To Chambers For Law Clerks
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman was honored to win Above the Law’s 2024 Lawyer of the Year Award.
Fed. Court Reforms Face Long Odds Amid GOP Control In '25
LAP’s President and Founder Aliza Shatzman spoke with Law360’s Jack Karp about the future of judicial reform under the Trump administration and GOP-led Congress.
Court Culture Seen As Barrier To Workplace Misconduct Fixes
LAP’s President Aliza Shatzman spoke with Law360 about systemic workplace issues plaguing the federal courts, barriers to meaningful reform, and necessary changes to truly ensure safe workplaces for judiciary employees.
Federal courts trumpet steps to protect workers after #MeToo movement
The nationwide #MeToo movement and meaningful workplace reforms have not yet reached the federal judiciary. Law clerk advocates’ and lawmakers’ concerns about sexual harassment and abusive conduct in the federal courts have only been heightened by the AO’s release this week of its 2023 Workplace Report.
US judiciary says few workplace misconduct complaints concern judges
The federal judiciary’s 2023 Workplace Report did little to quiet calls from lawmakers and law clerk advocates for sweeping reform.

