1. Attorney Aliza Shatzman starts Legal Accountability Project to prevent mistreatment of law clerks by powerful judges after experiencing harassment herself.
2. LAP launches database for law clerks to leave reviews of their experiences working for state and federal judges, aiming to combat fear and silence surrounding the judiciary.
3. The database collects positive and negative evaluations from clerks, offering insight into judge’s conduct as managers and helping potential clerks identify the right work environment for them.
Attorney Aliza Shatzman shared her experience of being mistreated by a judge while working as a law clerk, leading her to start the Legal Accountability Project (LAP). LAP has launched a database where law clerks can leave reviews of their experiences working for state and federal judges, aiming to provide more transparency and accountability in the judiciary. Judges nationwide have significant authority but often operate with little regulatory oversight, leading to a culture of fear and silence among clerks.
Shatzman testified before Congress about her mistreatment by a judge, who ultimately gave her a negative reference that led to a revoked job offer. She faced challenges in seeking accountability due to the lack of protections for federal judiciary employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Despite filing a complaint against the judge, it was ultimately dismissed. The judge was later removed from the bench for unrelated conduct violations and health reasons in an uncontested order of involuntary retirement.
Since its inception, LAP has collected over 800 surveys from former law clerks about their experiences working for judges. Shatzman personally vets each review before adding it to the database, which aims to provide a comprehensive view of the clerkship experience, including details on management style, work environment, and assigned tasks. The database is intended to help current law school students and recent alumni make informed decisions when applying for clerkships and promote dialogue between judges and clerks to improve workplace culture and practices.