Author: Aliza Shatzman

Aliza Shatzman is an attorney and advocate in Washington, D.C. She served as a law clerk in D.C Superior Court, in both the Criminal and Family Court Divisions, during the 2019-2020 term. Her forthcoming law journal article, entitled “Untouchable Judges? What I’ve Learned About Harassment in the Judiciary, and What We Can Do To Stop It,” will be published in Volume 29 of the UCLA Journal of Gender & Law in June 2022. Follow her on Twitter @AlizaShatzman.

On Passing the Judiciary Accountability Act: ‘The Judge Who Harassed Me Was Never Held Accountable for His Actions’

The way judges treat their clerks—especially when no one is watching—speaks to who they really are. But when they mistreat their clerks, life-tenured federal judges rarely face accountability. I would know: The D.C. Superior Court judge for whom I clerked began harassing me just weeks into my clerkship.

The Judiciary Accountability Act would raise the bar for workplace civility.