Maryland Federal Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby Acknowledges Creating ‘Abusive’ Workplace

LAP’s President and Founder, Aliza Shatzman, spoke with Above the Law about a recent disciplinary order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit finding that Lydia Kay Griggsby of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland created an “abusive” workplace for her law clerks. Clerks reported bullying, public humiliation, and emotional distress, with one co-clerk even too traumatized to eat or drink during the day.

Two clerks were quietly reassigned in 2022 to escape the hostile environment, yet no timely investigation was conducted. Shatzman notes that the case underscores persistent systemic failures in the federal judiciary to hold judges accountable and implement meaningful reforms, highlighting the urgent need for transparency, effective discipline, and congressional oversight to protect law clerks and ensure safe workplaces.