The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed a judicial misconduct complaint against a magistrate judge, following an investigation into allegations of intemperate conduct and delays in issuing rulings. The court’s order, filed on April 22, 2025, was released to the public on June 18, 2025.
The complaint was initiated by a former law clerk who accused the magistrate judge of unnecessary delays in two cases and a pattern of inappropriate behavior towards court staff, attorneys, and law clerks. A specially appointed committee, which included Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, was tasked with investigating these allegations.
The committee found that many of the claims made by the complainant were either unsubstantiated or inconsistent with witness testimony and recordings from relevant hearings. As a result, the committee recommended dismissing the allegations related to delays in issuing rulings. They determined that even if the delays occurred, they did not prejudice the administration of justice and did not constitute a habitual pattern of misconduct.
Specifically, the committee noted that the claims of delay did not reflect an improper motive or a significant pattern of delays across unrelated cases. The complainant did not provide evidence to suggest that the judge acted with any ulterior motives in the two instances cited.
Regarding the allegations of intemperate conduct, the complainant described various incidents, including verbal outbursts, inappropriate criticism of colleagues, and a general atmosphere of hostility. Witnesses interviewed during the investigation acknowledged that the judge sometimes exhibited frustration but characterized these moments with varying degrees of intensity. Most witnesses did not find the judge’s conduct to be abusive or inappropriate.
The committee’s investigation included interviews with law clerks, attorneys, and another judge from the same courthouse. They also reviewed audio recordings from the hearings in question. The findings indicated that some of the complainant’s serious allegations were not corroborated, particularly claims of explosive anger during hearings.
In response to the concerns raised, the judge acknowledged the committee’s findings and demonstrated an understanding of the potential problems associated with intemperate behavior. To address these issues, the judge voluntarily agreed to undertake corrective measures, which included participating in workplace conduct training and ensuring regular check-ins with law clerks to monitor their work environment.
The committee concluded that the judge’s actions to rectify the identified issues were appropriate and proportional to the allegations raised. As a result, they recommended closing the complaint under Rule 20(b)(1)(B), which allows for the conclusion of proceedings when appropriate corrective action has been taken.
The court’s order confirmed the committee’s recommendations, leading to the dismissal of the complaint regarding delays and the conclusion of the allegations related to intemperate conduct. The identity of the magistrate judge involved remains confidential, as mandated by court rules.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
