Federal Judges Aren't Subject To Workplace Harassment Laws

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

Politics, Daily News, News

4.5 • 24.9K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2024

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

NPR found that dozens of federal judges failed to disclose privately-funded travel to exclusive, often partisan events in exotic locales. And employees in the federal judiciary do not enjoy the same legal protections against workplace discrimination and harassment that cover most U.S. workers, which can help foster a hostile workplace environment.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and investigations correspondent Tom Dreisbach.

This podcast was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This message comes from NPR's sponsor, Organic Valley, the farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to providing ethically sourced food from small organic family farms.
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0:17.0	Hi, this is Iris in New Orleans, Louisiana.
0:20.0	I'm at Jasper celebrating my 30th birthday with my amazing family and friends.
0:25.0	This podcast was recorded at 120 PM on Thursday, May 2nd.
0:31.0	Things may have changed by the time you hear it. Okay, here's the show.
0:39.4	I've spent many, many happy Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Well happy birthday that's a big one and to many
0:46.2	more. Hey there it's the NPR Politics Podcast I'm Tamar Keith I cover the White House
0:50.9	I'm Carrie Johnson I cover the Justice Department. I'm Carrie Johnson. I cover the Justice Department.
0:53.8	And we've got Tom Driesbach here
0:55.6	from NPR's Investigations team.
0:57.9	Hey, Tom.
0:58.6	Hey, thanks for having me.
0:59.6	Thank you for being here.
1:00.9	And today, NPR is reporting on widespread ethics issues in the federal
1:05.6	judiciary specifically your reporting on these issues carry let's start
1:11.1	with your story about workplace culture under federal judges and there is a key fact to start with.
1:18.0	They are not subject to the same workplace discrimination laws that protect most employees in the United States.
1:25.0	That's right, you know, if you work for a private employer or a nonprofit or even for a member
1:29.7	of Congress, you do have certain kinds of workplace protections, but that's not the case for the federal judiciary in part because the judiciary wants to stand apart and be insulated from meddling from Congress.
1:42.0	The problem is that when there are these situations at work from You know most people tell me it's not a pervasive situation but there is sexual
1:56.4	harassment in the judiciary there is bullying in abusive conduct in the
	...

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