Latest news with #FederalJudicialCenter
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judiciary employee survey shows general job happiness, but a reluctance to report workplace misconduct
Fewer than half of employees of the federal judiciary believe court workers are willing to report instances of workplace misconduct, according to results of a long-awaited survey conducted by the judicial branch. The judges who spearheaded the review said, in a press call shortly after the report was released, the judiciary branch compared 'favorably' to the other two branches of the US government when it comes to employees' workplace happiness, with 84% reporting that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. Still, judiciary leaders concede that more has to be done to encourage workers to report any professional misconduct that they're subjected to. The survey, released Monday and conducted by Federal Judicial Center researchers, was part of a larger effort launched by Chief Justice John Roberts in 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, to address harassment, abuse and other misconduct judicial employees suffered in their jobs – including harassment they received from judges. With their lifetime appointments, judges wield – at times – seemingly untouchable power within their chambers, and some have retired rather than face scrutiny of allegations brought against them. The survey was sent to all employees of the federal judiciary in January 2023, and 13,895 employees responded, according to the report. Monday's report said that, out of the 272 survey takers who reported discriminatory harassment, 63 said that harassment came from judges. Judges were behind 166 instances of abusive conduct reported by 900 survey-takers, according to the report. And 49 of the 290 respondents who said they were subjected to employment discrimination said it came from a judge. On the press call, Senior US Circuit Judge Margaret McKeown – a member of the workplace conduct working group established by Roberts – said as a statistical figure, the number of workplace conduct complaints connected to judges was 'quite small,' as she emphasized there are about 30,000 judiciary employees. Those who indicated experiencing misconduct were much more likely to identify managers and direct colleagues as the source of the issue, the report said. Aliza Shatzman, the founder of the Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit that considers itself a watchdog for abusive conduct in courtrooms experienced by clerks, said that the release of the survey findings was a 'positive step,' but pushed back on the claim that that it showed judges were behind only a 'small number' of workplace misconduct issues. 'I cannot even underscore for you how stark the power disparity is between a law clerk and a judge,' Shatzman told CNN. 'There is no greater power disparity in the legal profession, probably in white collar workplaces period.' A federal judge in Alaska resigned last year amid an investigation showing he had created a 'hostile work environment' for his clerks, while having an 'inappropriately sexualized relationship' with one of them. Only 42% of survey-takers said that employees were willing or very willing to report workplace misconduct, a number that the workplace conduct working group was 'concerned about,' US District Judge Julie Robinson said Monday. Almost two-thirds of respondents said that management at their courts or judicial workplaces encouraged employees to report misconduct. 'We want to see a much higher number in people who are comfortable' Robinson, who sits on the federal court in Kansas, said. 'The key is that it is important to build trust and confidence in the system.' The Supreme Court's press office did not respond to a CNN request for comment from Chief Justice Roberts.
CNN
01-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Judiciary employee survey shows general job happiness, but a reluctance to report workplace misconduct
Fewer than half of employees of the federal judiciary believe court workers are willing to report instances of workplace misconduct, according to results of a long-awaited survey conducted by the judicial branch. The judges who spearheaded the review said, in a press call shortly after the report was released, the judiciary branch compared 'favorably' to the other two branches of the US government when it comes to employees' workplace happiness, with 84% reporting that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. Still, judiciary leaders concede that more has to be done to encourage workers to report any professional misconduct that they're subjected to. The survey, released Monday and conducted by Federal Judicial Center researchers, was part of a larger effort launched by Chief Justice John Roberts in 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, to address harassment, abuse and other misconduct judicial employees suffered in their jobs – including harassment they received from judges. With their lifetime appointments, judges wield – at times – seemingly untouchable power within their chambers, and some have retired rather than face scrutiny of allegations brought against them. The survey was sent to all employees of the federal judiciary in January 2023, and 13,895 employees responded, according to the report. Monday's report said that, out of the 272 survey takers who reported discriminatory harassment, 63 said that harassment came from judges. Judges were behind 166 instances of abusive conduct reported by 900 survey-takers, according to the report. And 49 of the 290 respondents who said they were subjected to employment discrimination said it came from a judge. On the press call, Senior US Circuit Judge Margaret McKeown – a member of the workplace conduct working group established by Roberts – said as a statistical figure, the number of workplace conduct complaints connected to judges was 'quite small,' as she emphasized there are about 30,000 judiciary employees. Those who indicated experiencing misconduct were much more likely to identify managers and direct colleagues as the source of the issue, the report said. Aliza Shatzman, the founder of the Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit that considers itself a watchdog for abusive conduct in courtrooms experienced by clerks, said that the release of the survey findings was a 'positive step,' but pushed back on the claim that that it showed judges were behind only a 'small number' of workplace misconduct issues. 'I cannot even underscore for you how stark the power disparity is between a law clerk and a judge,' Shatzman told CNN. 'There is no greater power disparity in the legal profession, probably in white collar workplaces period.' A federal judge in Alaska resigned last year amid an investigation showing he had created a 'hostile work environment' for his clerks, while having an 'inappropriately sexualized relationship' with one of them. Only 42% of survey-takers said that employees were willing or very willing to report workplace misconduct, a number that the workplace conduct working group was 'concerned about,' US District Judge Julie Robinson said Monday. Almost two-thirds of respondents said that management at their courts or judicial workplaces encouraged employees to report misconduct. 'We want to see a much higher number in people who are comfortable' Robinson, who sits on the federal court in Kansas, said. 'The key is that it is important to build trust and confidence in the system.' The Supreme Court's press office did not respond to a CNN request for comment from Chief Justice Roberts.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is an executive order? How much power do they hold over the federal government
All U.S. Presidents starting with George Washington have issued executive orders as a way to codify administrative policy goals and priorities what may face Congressional opposition and send a message about its priorities. Since starting his second term, President Donald Trump has signed more than 80 executive orders as of March 5, a number described as unprecedented in modern politics. His administration also has been hit by more than 100 lawsuits as of Thursday, contending that the president has overstepped his authority under the Constitution, according to ABC News. Ex-teacher guilty of harassing student Split verdict for ex-Centennial teacher accused of mistreating special ed students An executive order is a written directive from the president ordering the executive branch to take action to implement and follow existing laws. The president is granted this power under Article II of the Constitution, which obliges the president to ensure that 'laws are faithfully executed.' Executive orders can be an effective way to carry out programs and policy while staying within the rule of law, but they are subject to judicial review and interpretation. The courts can strike down executive orders on the grounds the president lacked authority to issue them but if the order is found to be unconstitutional in substance, according to the Federal Judicial Center. An executive order tells federal agencies and departments how to implement an existing law or statute. A president can order the federal government to take any steps within the scope of constitutional authority of the executive branch, but cannot violate federal law. An executive order cannot override existing federal laws and statutes or be used to bypass judicial and legislative branches of government, which have equal power. The president cannot overrule the Supreme Court's interpretation of the law and cannot single-handedly change laws that have been passed by Congress. For example, Trump used an executive order in his second term to rescind President Lyndon Johnson's executive order requiring federal contractors follow civil rights laws and not engage in employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin. His executive order does not remove or change equal protections laws in employment, but signals that federal contractors won't have the same obligation to protect employees and tells the public equal protection is not an administrative priority,' according to Christopher Anders, director of policy and government affairs, democracy and technology for the American Civil Liberties Union. Some orders take effect immediately after they are signed and some set a deadline. Other orders don't have any impact until a government agency takes additional steps. Often an executive order requires a federal agency to complete a report, undertake an investigation or publicly announce a new regulation, which can take months or years. Yes. The ACLU outlined the following: Congress can enact a law that reverses what the president has done, provided that Congress has the constitutional authority to legislate on the issue. A court can hold that an executive order is unlawful if it violates the Constitution or federal statute. Any future president can issue a new executive order that rescinds or amends the earlier executive order. Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@ This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Can a president use an executive order to overturn existing law?
