Federal Judge Suddenly Retires After Being Accused Of Sexual Harassment
Alex Kozinski Image by Getty
By Ari Feldman December 19, 2017
A prominent federal appeals circuit judge is retiring after being investigated for sexual harassment, the New York Times reported.
Alex Kozinski announced his retirement after 9th Circuit Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas asked for a formal investigation into the allegations against Kozinski last week.
“I cannot be an effective judge and simultaneously fight this battle,” he said in the statement. “Nor would such a battle be good for my beloved federal judiciary. And so I am making the decision to retire, effective immediately.”
At least 15 women have accused Kozinski of unwanted touching, groping and sexual harassment. Several worked for him as clerks, while others he met at private events.
“It grieves me to learn that I caused any of my clerks to feel uncomfortable; this was never my intent,” he said. “For this I sincerely apologize.”
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
