• 15
  • February
    2011

In an ideal world, people in positions of leadership and authority could be used as role models - pillars of our moral ideals. Unfortunately, in the world in which we live, that is not always the case. Last week a news story surfaced about a former chief judge and six sitting judges who are facing allegations of sexual harassment.

The woman who filed the complaint, Tammy, worked in the administrative and accounting department at the court, and she claims she was eventually fired for refusing the sexual advances made by her boss, the chief judge.

Tammy is not the only person who has been harassed by the chief judge. At least six other employees reported harassment, and three of those people said the harassment was sexual in nature. The 68-page lawsuit details numerous examples of the harassment Tammy endured from her boss.

Even when Tammy made her concerns about the chief judge known to other superiors, nothing was done about the situation. Tammy discussed her concerns with another chief judge but said she did not want the complaint to go on formal record because she was concerned about both her job and her safety. Rather than addressing the hostile situation, Tammy's concerns were dismissed.

That chief judge is also named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit says that she was belligerent toward Tammy and that she provided "conflicting directives and chaotic behind-the-scenes in regard to the court's administrative operations." When Tammy was fired in November, she alleged it was retaliatory and is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

Although this story did not happen in California, there have been an unnerving number of harassment stories in the news lately. Visit the blog later to learn more about the developments of Tammy's case and new cases in the San Francisco area.

Source: WDSU, "Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Filed Against Judge, 6 Others," 9 February 2011