Maryland Federal Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby Acknowledges Creating ‘Abusive’ Workplace

Above the Law

by Aliza Shatzman

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Maryland Federal Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby has faced serious allegations of creating an abusive work environment in her courtroom, with clerks claiming she bullied and mistreated them during their clerkships. These claims include mental anguish, health issues, and demeaning language, such as calling one clerk’s work “crap” and another “an embarrassment to the court.” Despite these allegations, no formal investigation was conducted by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) or the newly created Office of Judicial Integrity (OJI), even after two clerks were simultaneously reassigned to a different judge in late 2022. The lack of accountability for Griggsby’s behavior raises concerns about the broader failure of the judicial branch to address misconduct. Similar allegations have been leveled against other judges, such as Second Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam, highlighting a pattern of willful ignorance and obstruction of justice within the system. Judiciary officials, including district chief judges and human resources departments, were aware of these serious allegations but failed to act for three years, leaving clerks vulnerable to further abuse. The situation is particularly concerning because it reflects systemic issues in how judicial misconduct is handled. When HR reassigns clerks early or sweeps misconduct under the rug, it sends a dangerous message that such behavior is acceptable. The Fourth Circuit’s recent disciplinary order regarding Griggsby underscores this problem by whitewashing the severity of her actions and failing to hold her accountable for creating a toxic work environment. This lack of accountability not only harms individual clerks but also undermines public trust in the judiciary. Federal judges are held to high standards of conduct, and their failure to meet these expectations can erode confidence in the legal system. The case of Lydia Kay Griggsby serves as a stark reminder that more transparency and stronger measures are needed to ensure justice is served both in courtrooms and behind the scenes. The broader implications of this story are significant for anyone interested in legal accountability and workplace safety within the judiciary. By ignoring these allegations, the judicial branch risks perpetuating a culture where abuse and misconduct go unchecked, ultimately harming the integrity of the legal profession as a whole.

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Originally published on Above the Law on 2/24/2026