We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode When it comes to harassment, are federal judges above the law?

When it comes to harassment, are federal judges above the law?

2025/3/3
logo of podcast Consider This from NPR

Consider This from NPR

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Aliza Schatzman
A
Ari Shapiro
C
Carrie Johnson
G
Gabe Roth
H
Hank Johnson
J
Jamie Baker
N
Norma Torres
匿名法律助理
Topics
匿名法律助理: 我在阿拉斯加担任联邦法官的法律助理期间,遭受了持续的性骚扰和最终的性侵犯。法官利用其权力和职位,对我进行言语骚扰和短信骚扰,最终在一次聚会后,在我不知情的情况下,对我进行了性侵犯。整个过程中,我感到巨大的压力和恐惧,因为我知道法官对我的职业生涯有着巨大的影响力。我向我的导师举报了此事,但我的导师也曾受到法官的胁迫,并立即将我的举报告诉了法官,这让我更加绝望。法院的调查过程漫长而痛苦,最终也没有对性侵指控做出明确结论,这让我感到非常失望。 Ari Shapiro: 本期节目探讨了联邦法院系统中存在的性骚扰和欺凌问题,以及普遍的举报恐惧文化。长期以来,联邦法院系统的工作人员缺乏与其他美国人相同的职业保护,这使得他们难以对抗有权势的领导。 Carrie Johnson: 我对42名联邦法院系统的工作人员进行了采访,他们描述了各种形式的性骚扰、欺凌和歧视。这些问题在法院内部往往是公开的秘密,但由于法官的终身任职和权力,很少有人敢于举报。法院的报告系统存在问题,缺乏有效的监督和问责机制。阿拉斯加法官的离职虽然被视为系统有效的证明,但它并不能掩盖系统中存在的深层次问题。 Jamie Baker: 我曾在白宫和军队工作,也担任过法官。我发现法官与法律助理之间的权力差异最为显著,这种关系往往伴随着巨大的年龄差距,这加剧了权力失衡。 Gabe Roth: 联邦法官是终身任职的,而法律助理通常只有26到30岁,这种年龄和任期上的巨大差异导致权力结构失衡,需要更多的问责机制来保护法律助理的权益。 Norma Torres: 法院系统缺乏统一的监督机制,导致有权势的人可以掩盖问题,这需要国会采取行动来加强监督和问责。 Hank Johnson: 我正在推动《司法问责法案》,以确保联邦法院工作人员享有与私营部门和行政部门相同的法律保护,并加强对法官行为的监督。 Aliza Schatzman: 联邦司法系统不受《1964年民权法案》第七章的约束,这意味着法律助理在遭受性骚扰或报复时没有法律救济途径,这需要法律改革来弥补这一漏洞。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The story of a law clerk in Alaska highlights the power imbalance and lack of job protections for federal court employees, emphasizing the challenges they face in reporting misconduct.
  • A law clerk in Alaska faced harassment from a federal judge, who was her only point of contact and authority.
  • The judge's inappropriate behavior escalated to constant communication and sharing personal details.
  • The clerk's attempt to escape the situation by changing jobs was unsuccessful in ending the harassment.

Shownotes Transcript

People who work for the federal court system don't have the same kinds of job protections that most other Americans do.A nearly year-long NPR investigation) has found problems with the way the courts police sexual harassment and bullying...and a pervasive culture of fear about blowing the whistle. A warning to our listeners, this piece contains a description of sexual assault.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org).Email us at [email protected]).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)