A federal judge in Georgia has expressed regret for the “harmful, offensive, and unprofessional conduct” exhibited by a former law clerk, who reportedly engaged in sexual activities with a high-ranking police officer during work hours, within earshot of staff.
This apology followed an impeachment complaint filed against U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross by two Georgia House Republicans.
In a letter she sent last week, Ross, serving in the Northern District of Georgia, acknowledged her actions, saying, “I think you deserved better than my confrontational approach tarnishing your experience.” She admitted that a previous letter she sent to the clerk was inadequate, as it didn’t fully accept her responsibility or offer the sincere apology deserved.
“I owe you an apology for my previous accusations,” she added. “There are no excuses, and I truly regret what I did.”
Ross, appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, faced disciplinary action when investigators found she had been dishonest about her intimate encounter with a police officer.
Following a probe into judicial misconduct, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) and Rep. Clay Fuller (R-Ga.) introduced separate impeachment resolutions against her. Federal judges, serving lifetime appointments, can only be removed through congressional impeachment.
Clyde emphasized, “When judges engage in misconduct, Congress has the responsibility and authority to take action.” He criticized Ross’s actions, suggesting they reflected a lack of integrity and impartiality.
Fuller reinforced this viewpoint, stating that Ross made false statements during the investigation, which hindered the assessment of misconduct allegations and affected court operations. He insisted that the public deserves a justice system that exemplifies integrity and professionalism.
The investigation, led by 11th Circuit Chief Judge William Pryor, explored further allegations, including Ross attending a partisan political event and failing to supervise clerks appropriately. The committee found Ross had indeed participated in sexual acts in court and misled investigators.
Ross received a private reprimand and agreed not to seek a lead judge position if eligible, along with writing apology letters to six former clerks.
Clyde filed a detailed impeachment complaint against Ross for inappropriate conduct, including the unreported affair with police officer Kelly Collier from 2023 to 2025. This relationship, he claimed, created a distressing atmosphere, as multiple clerks heard sounds indicating sexual activity in the judge’s chambers.
“She is unfit to continue as a judge, which is why I’m advocating for her impeachment and removal,” Clyde stated.
Several others, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), co-sponsored Clyde’s impeachment articles.
Fuller separately accused Ross of engaging in an affair in court while presiding over criminal matters, emphasizing the timing of her presence at a political event just before significant court proceedings.
Ross also reportedly stated that she had “drank too many martinis” during a staff campaign event, which added to the concerns about her professionalism. Initially, she denied the allegations but later retracted her statements, which the committee noted was likely in light of arriving evidence.
Pryor asked Ross to address the allegations last fall, to which she responded affirmatively, denying the claims and suggesting they were fabricated out of resentment since the clerk had been required to report to the office.
Investigators found that uniformed officers frequently visited Ross’s chamber at lunchtime, and multiple clerks reported overhearing possible sexual activity taking place. While the atmosphere at the court was deemed problematic, abusive behavior was not substantiated.
The House Judiciary Committee will ultimately decide on initiating impeachment proceedings. Should the House move forward with impeachment, the Senate would then determine whether to remove her from the federal judiciary.
In her apology letter to the former clerk, Ross wrote, “While I can’t completely undo the harm I caused, I hope recognizing these failures can be a small first step,” adding that further measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
