On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, NPR reported that an unnamed federal judge acknowledged that the atmosphere within their court chambers “at times resulted in an abusive workplace.” This admission came after a law clerk lodged a complaint regarding bullying, prompting the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to issue an order.

The order detailed allegations of harassment, verbal abuse, and erratic behavior by the judge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instances cited included the judge demanding weekly updates on approximately 200 cases from clerks and subjecting them to “verbal browbeating” if they failed to provide immediate, precise details. Another incident involved the judge banging on a bathroom door while a clerk was inside, declaring, “that’s my bathroom.”

While the order did not reveal the judge’s identity, NPR sources identified her as U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby, of Maryland. Griggsby, 58, was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2021 for a lifetime tenured position.

Judge Griggsby did not immediately respond to requests for comment. James Ishida, the circuit executive, also had no immediate response, and a spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts declined to comment.

Chief Judge Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which oversees Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, signed the order. The order stated that some allegations “may be explained by poor communication, unstated assumptions, or misunderstandings between the judge and the law clerks.”

Judge Diaz also acknowledged a workplace culture where clerks were hesitant to ask questions and experienced health issues linked to the stress of their clerkships. Both the complaining clerk and their co-clerk transferred out of Judge Griggsby’s chambers before completing their two-year terms; one clerk served only two-and-a-half months before transferring.

The Fourth Circuit’s investigation involved interviews with a judicial assistant and former law clerks, who shared similar experiences. Despite the intense atmosphere, most indicated they would still work for the judge.

Judge Diaz’s order noted the unnamed judge’s cooperation with the investigation and agreement to corrective measures, including mentoring, workplace training, and informing new clerks about approaching the chief judge with concerns.

The Legal Accountability Project filed a formal complaint last year against a different federal judge, Sarah Merriam of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Aliza Shatzman, founder of The Legal Accountability Project, described the newly public complaint as “just the latest in a long line of examples of the outrageous lack of accountability for federal judges who abuse their power by mistreating clerks.”

Shatzman noted the lengthy time it took to investigate the case, potentially exposing more law clerks to mistreatment. She also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of corrective actions in changing a judge’s chambers’ dynamics.

 

 

Source: NPR