ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta police say they've opened an investigation to determine whether the “high-ranking law enforcement officer” found to have had sex with a federal judge in the judge's chambers is a member of their department.
A federal judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit, which includes Alabama, Florida and Georgia, received a “private reprimand” after a court investigation found that the judge had “sexual intercourse in the judge’s chambers during business hours within hearing distance of staff” with a high-ranking uniformed police officer.
The names of the judge and the officer were not included in the investigative report, nor was the court location within the 11th Circuit where the judge serves. The Associated Press has been unable to independently confirm the names.
Reached by phone, William Pryor, the chief judge of the 11th Circuit, who appointed a committee to investigate the allegations that surfaced in a complaint from one of the judge's law clerks, declined to comment or to confirm the name of the judge.
In addition to the extramarital sexual affair, the judge was also found to have attended a partisan political event. The judge's initial reaction when confronted with the allegations last fall was to falsely deny them, calling them “outrageous” and “baseless.”
Despite the serious nature of the misconduct, the Judicial Council of the 11th Judicial Circuit chose in a February order to impose a private reprimand that kept the judge's name secret. The Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability of the Judicial Conference of the United States last week affirmed that order.
“We need a lot of reform on who judges the judges when they act badly,” Georgia State University law school professor Eric Segall said. “Judges will protect judges.”
Federal judges are protected from serious consequences because they have a lifetime appointment and can only be removed if they are impeached by Congress, which argues in favor of publicly naming them when they are disciplined, he said.
"I’m not one who likes to publicly embarrass people, but what else can we do?” Segall said.
After initially denying the allegations, the judge later admitted wrongdoing and spoke candidly about what had happened, the investigative committee wrote in its report. The judge also ended the relationship with the officer, meaning a repeat of the behavior was unlikely, the committee found. Those factors, along with the judge's “otherwise exemplary service to the court,” prompted the committee to recommend a private reprimand rather than a public one, the report says.
The judge also agreed to write apology letters to six former law clerks, not to accept the position of chief judge of the district when eligible and to refrain from serving on any Judicial Conference committee.
But that misconduct will continue to be an “elephant in the room” until the judge publicly acknowledges a mistake in judgment, Segall said.
"When you have a public position of deciding cases and controversies between adverse parties, your judgment and your character are very much in play,” he said. “The very first thing I tell my students is all of you will make mistakes in practice. You own it, you admit to it, you try your best to fix it and only then is it possible to move on.”
FILE - The exterior of the U.S. Courthouse for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stands in Atlanta, July 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
PARIS (AP) — With two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz absent, Jannik Sinner was expected to capture his first French Open crown this year. Instead, the top-ranked Italian lost in the second round, leaving the men’s draw wide open.
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic was the most experienced contender left in the field, chasing a record 25th major title. But the 39-year-old Serb will have to wait until Wimbledon after losing a five-set thriller to 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca on Friday.
The result may not have been so surprising because Djokovic came into the tournament with questions over his form after losing to a Croatian qualifier at the Italian Open, his only clay-court warmup event after two months out with a right shoulder injury.
Here is a look at some of the favorites still in contention for the title:
He will likely think this is best chance of winning his first major title. The 2024 runner-up to Alcaraz has also advanced to three semifinals and another quarterfinal in Paris. The 29-year-old German is in excellent form after reaching the final in Madrid and the semifinals in Monte Carlo and Munich. The second-seeded Zverev has yet to drop a set and takes on Frenchman Quentin Halys during the evening session Friday.
At No. 4, the Canadian is the highest seed left in the top half of the draw and will take on Brandon Nakashima in the third round. Auger-Aliassime was two points away from defeat in the first round before rallying past Daniel Altmaier in five sets. He then got past Roman Andres Burruchaga in four sets. Auger-Aliassime’s best result at Roland Garros was the fourth round in 2022 and 2024.
He is the latest tennis sensation from Spain. The 19-year-old Jodar is into the fourth round at a major for the first time after his five-set win over Alex Michelsen. Jodar claimed his first ATP title in Marrakech last month then made it to the semifinals in Barcelona and the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome. His tour-level record on clay is 18-3. By comparison, 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz both went 13-7 through their first 20 tour-level matches on clay.
Can the French teenager create a major surprise and emulate Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win at Roland Garros in 1983? Kouame reached the third round after a five-set, five-hour thriller that delighted the French crowd. The No. 318-ranked player next faces Chilean Alejandro Tabilo. Kouame beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the first round, becoming the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match.
Ruud lost the 2022 final to Nadal and the 2023 final to Djokovic. The Norwegian has struggled in the Paris heat this week and needed five sets to prevail in the first round. Ruud faces Tommy Paul of the United States in the third round.
He has to be added to the list after a brilliant comeback win against arguably the best men’s player of all time. Fonseca became the first teenager to defeat the Serbian at a Grand Slam event. He is into the fourth round at a major for the first time.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates after winning the second round men's singles tennis match against Roman Andres Burruchaga of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Moise Kouame of France reacts as he plays against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay during their second round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Alexander Zverev of Germany returns to Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic during their second round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning against Valentin Royer of France during their second round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
