GA Judge Who Dodged Public Scrutiny for ‘Deeply Troubling Misconduct’ Is Exposed - in More Ways Than One

As events over the last few years have shown us, there is rarely a dull moment in Georgia's legal community, something we've witnessed several times in recent weeks.

For starters, there was U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner, the sister of twice-failed Georgia Democrat gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams, muzzling a judicial watchdog from publicly discussing alleged judicial conduct rule violations involving two leftist attorneys who were vying for Georgia Supreme Court seats. The election was held the day after the ruling, and thankfully, the two conservative justices won.

There was also the Georgia Supreme Court's decision in an embarrassing situation involving a Clayton County Assistant District Attorney who was caught citing cases that didn't exist during an appearance before the court back in March.

With all of that in mind, we turn to the case of a Georgia judge who merely received a "private reprimand" from a judicial council after it was revealed that she had been having sex with a high-ranking member of the Atlanta Police Department in the judge's chambers within earshot of staff over the course of two years. When she was questioned about it, she initially claimed that the law clerk who reported her was allegedly retaliating against her over disagreements and was making up the story. But she later admitted to what had happened:

A federal district judge engaged in an extramarital affair with a law enforcement officer in chambers, and in earshot of law clerks, a judicial conduct committee found.
A special committee for the Eleventh Circuit found the judge, who isn’t named, engaged in sexual intercourse in “chambers and during business hours” over the course of a two-year relationship, according to the panel’s recently released report.
This relationship “demonstrated a gross lack of judgment” and resulted in a “chambers workplace that was extremely uncomfortable and troubling for clerks,” the report said.
The Judicial Conference’s judicial conduct and disability committee in a May 22 order affirmed a February misconduct finding by the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s judicial council. A December special committee report laid out the allegations against and resulting investigation into the judge.
[...]
The judge was also found to have improperly attended a partisan political event hosted by a district attorney’s campaign, and to have made false statements to judges investigating the conduct.

Through the process of elimination, that judge has now been named:

News: The judge reprimanded by the judiciary for having sex in chambers, in earshot of law clerks, is Judge Eleanor Ross of the Atlanta-based Northern District of Georgia, @BLaw has confirmed. w/ @oliviaalafriz & @jacq_thomsen https://t.co/nvKEQwKeS4
— Suzanne Monyak (@SuzanneMonyak) May 28, 2026

Bloomberg Law identified the Atlanta PD officer as Deputy Chief Kelley Collier. He "commands the department’s community services division, according to the department’s website."

Constitutional law professor Josh Blackman, writing at Reason, found Ross' identity through her public connection to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis :

There were many press reports about Willis's victory in the 2024 Democratic primary. The memorandum makes several references to martinis. For example, "the Subject Judge explained that the judge had consumed too many martinis the night before at the primary election victory party for a District Attorney." Moreover, "Based on news coverage, including video and photos, the District Attorney's campaign held an election watch party at which drinks or food in martini glasses appeared to have been served." Well, there were certainly martinis at Willis's party. Here is a photo of Nathan Wade at Willis's victory party from Fox 5 Atlanta. In the background you can see a martini glass. For those who do not recall, Wade resigned as special prosecutor in the Trump case after admitting to having an affair with Willis.

Further, "From 1998 to 2002, [Ross] served as a senior assistant district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia. That would have given her a chance to work with Fani Willis, who was an assistant district attorney during that time."

You might be wondering why Ross only received a "private reprimand" rather than a public one. This is why:

Ross received a private reprimand for her misconduct, after the special committee created to investigate a law clerk’s allegations against her said the judge “has demonstrated a strong propensity for rehabilitation and continued diligent service to the judiciary.” She also agreed to write apology letters to the former clerks interviewed during the investigation and not to serve as chief judge or other judicial leadership roles.

From the Eleventh Circuit Court's order:

Although the special committee is deeply troubled by the conduct in which the judge engaged, the Subject Judge has demonstrated a strong propensity for rehabilitation and continued diligent service to the judiciary. Although the sanction recommended allows the Subject Judge to continue the judge’s judicial service, the sanction also reflects the seriousness of the judge’s misconduct, and provides solace to those harmed by that misconduct.

George Washington University Law School Professor Jonathan Turley was astounded by the fact that Ross was able to remain on the bench and with no formal public reprimand in light of what had happened:

Then there are the repeated lies to fellow judges and investigators. Lying to federal investigators can be a crime under 18 U.S.C. 1001, and such cases can come before this judge.
[...]
The use of court property for sexual liaisons with a police officer and then lying about it should warrant a bit more than an anonymous order, private reprimand, and a waiving of future positions. This judge, who has shown serious ethical concerns, will continue to render judgments on others.
If an officer had repeatedly lied to the court, would the contempt citation for the individual be anonymous with only voluntary waivers of future positions?
In the end, determining the identity of the judge is less challenging than the reasoning of the Judicial Council.

The man has a point.

Now that Judge Ross has been outed by the law/legal media, it will be interesting to see what happens next. Stay tuned.

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