Spike in Judicial Misconduct Complaints Raises Questions About Accountability and Transparency

Legal Accountability Project Founder and President Aliza Shatzman spoke with The National Law Journal about a sharp rise in judicial misconduct complaints. According to new data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, more than 1,850 complaints were filed against federal judges last year — a nearly 23% increase. While some allegations stemmed from dissatisfaction with rulings, the report also included claims of discrimination and hostile work environments. Shatzman questions whether the judiciary’s statistics meaningfully capture workplace mistreatment, particularly for law clerks who lack basic federal employment protections, and calls for more transparent, detailed reporting to ensure real accountability.