Federal judiciary hires its first 'judicial integrity officer' to handle workplace conduct matters
Jill Langley. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Federal courts will have a new employee to handle workplace disputes, fulfilling a recommendation by a working group formed following sexual misconduct allegations against a federal appeals judge.
Jill Langley has been named the first-ever judicial integrity officer, the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts announced Monday. The National Law Journal has coverage.
Langley is currently the director of workplace relations for the Denver-based 10th U.S. Court of Appeals, where she has worked for 23 years. The press announcement describes Langley as a recognized authority in employment dispute resolution. She is a cum laude graduate of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she was an editor of the law review.
Langley will set up a new office that will answer individuals’ questions, provide guidance on conflict resolution and explain formal complaint options. The office will track data and recurring workplace issues to identify trends. Langley will also provide training throughout the judiciary.
The Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group had recommended a uniform approach to employee dispute resolution across all circuits. The report, released in June, had recommended creation of an internal judicial integrity office to provide counseling and assistance regarding workplace conduct (see page 37).
The working group was created after the Washington Post published sexual misconduct allegations against then-Judge Alex Kozinski of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Kozinski announced his immediate retirement last December.
