The Legal Accountability Project

✨Today is my Barriversary: I was sworn into the DC Bar 6️⃣yrs ago today. ⚖️

📜Then, I assumed now I’d be a homicide prosecutor in the DC USAO. But that’s not what happened.🌪️

⚖️Instead, I turned my pain into purpose, launching @thelap.bsky.social to correct injustices I experienced as a student+ clerk.

Pa. Supreme Court upholds Philadelphia judge suspension over partisan Facebook posts • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The justices’  decision Wednesday upholds a Philadelphia judge’s suspension for making partisan social media posts.

penncapital-star.com/campaigns-el...

LAP’s @alizashatzman.bsky.social spoke w @glennkirschner.bsky.social abt how LAP addresses both congressional intransigence + judiciary inaction - including by filing a judicial misconduct complaint against 2nd Cir Judge Sarah Merriam.

LAP’s @alizashatzman.bsky.social spoke w @glennkirschner.bsky.social abt how LAP addresses both congressional intransigence + judiciary inaction - including by filing a judicial misconduct complaint against 2nd Cir Judge Sarah Merriam.

The federal judiciary is perpetrating a fraud upon the public, yet spineless members of Congress are complicit by refusing to conduct oversight over the courts.

I spoke with @glennkirschner.bsky.social abt what @thelap.bsky.social is doing abt it—incl filing a complaint against Judge Sarah Merriam

YouTube video by Glenn Kirschner The Legal Accountability Project: Protecting Against Judicial Misconduct

The Legal Accountability Project: Protecting Against Judicial Misconduct
youtu.be/C_Oiap1FAAY?...

🎂🦴 Happy birthday to our Pawalegal 🐾, Zeppo ShatzPaws!

Last day as a 2 year old pupper

Pennsylvania judge facing discipline for allegedly keeping "book of grudges," complaint says A Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, judge kept a book that detailed grievances against people who appeared before her in court, a complaint states.

www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia...

LER No. 114 - "Rogue Judges" Senate Hearing, TX Ends ABA Oversight, Judge Charged Over "Book of Grudges," Rural Lawyering, Top Ethics Stories of 2025, Predictions for 2026 & More (01.12.26) The Legal Ethics Roundup - your Monday morning tour of all things related to lawyer and judicial ethics with University of Houston law professor Renee Knake Jefferson

open.substack.com/pub/legaleth...

US court security, public defenders to receive funding boost in spending bill The U.S. federal judiciary is set to receive a boost in spending for court security and federal public defenders this fiscal year under a funding deal struck by leaders of the appropriations process i...

The appropriations process is an opportunity to hold the federal judiciary accountable for its failure to self-police workplace misconduct by linking their budgetary request to meaningful benchmarks for reform.

Congress has abdicated its responsibilities. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

Hey, @alizashatzman.bsky.social, you just got a great shoutout from @darapurvis.bsky.social at #AALS2026 because you and your work are amazing!

Federal judge raised in New Haven accused of bullying, humiliating staff Law clerks say U.S. appeals court Judge Sarah Merriam "routinely bullied, belittled, isolated, and dehumanized them," , according to the recent complaint.

Law clerks say U.S. appeals court Judge Sarah Merriam "routinely bullied, belittled, isolated, and dehumanized them," , according to the recent complaint.

👏 👏 Our President + Founder @alizashatzman.bsky.social has been named a 2026 ABA Legal Rebel 🔥

🏆 Thrilled to share that I’ve been named a 2026 ABA Legal Rebel in recognition of @thelap.bsky.social pathbreaking work! 🔥

✨Here’s to another big year of shaking up the judiciary + legal industry!⚡️

YouTube video by The Legal Accountability Project The Legal Accountability Project Accuses U.S. Circuit Court Judge of Bullying Clerks

youtu.be/iA_kfQJlMF0?...

LAP’s @alizashatzman.bsky.social shares some thoughts on the judicial misconduct complaint we filed against 2nd Cir Judge Sarah Merriam

YouTube video by The Legal Accountability Project The Legal Accountability Project Accuses U.S. Circuit Court Judge of Bullying Clerks

You may have heard that @thelap.bsky.social filed our first judicial misconduct complaint.

Shared some thoughts on my morning walk. youtu.be/iA_kfQJlMF0?...

Group Files Complaint Against 2nd Circuit Judge, Alleges Mistreatment of Clerks| Law.com The Legal Accountability Project, which advocates for law clerks, stated in a news release Tuesday that its complaint is based on information it received from several former clerks raising concerns about Sarah A.L. Merriam’s workplace conduct.

The Legal Accountability Project, which advocates for law clerks, stated in a news release Tuesday that its complaint is based on information it received from several former clerks raising concerns about Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam’s workplace conduct.

https://loom.ly/Uf6D2v4

A non-profit advocating for law clerks filed a judicial misconduct complaint against 2nd Circuit Judge Sarah Merriam, alleging she created a workplace climate characterized by fear, intimidation and bullying despite previously pledging to improve conditions reut.rs/3YOawOy

In a rare formal complaint, a federal judge is accused of bullying law clerks A nonprofit group has filed a complaint alleging a federal judge has been bullying her law clerks. It's a flashpoint in the debate over whether the judiciary can police itself.

www.npr.org/2025/12/31/n...

Clerks accuse CT U.S. Circuit judge of ‘intimidation, humiliation, and bullying’ – again A group that advocates for judicial clerks has accused a Connecticut appeals court judge of bullying and mistreating her staff.

www.courant.com/2026/01/01/c...

Sigh.

A new year just like the last. #LadyLawyerDiaries

Federal appeals court judge is accused of bullying her clerks The Legal Accountability Project complaint, which has not been previously reported, states that it is based on conversations with multiple former law clerks.

Nonprofit files misconduct complaint against federal judge

www.npr.org/2025/12/30/g...

🔊 Listen Now: In a rare formal complaint, a federal judge is accused of bullying law clerks All Things Considered on NPR One | 4:21

And here’s the audio from tonight - In a rare formal complaint, a federal judge is accused of bullying law clerks one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5661...

🔊 Listen Now: In a rare formal complaint, a federal judge is accused of bullying law clerks All Things Considered on NPR One | 4:21

🎧🎙️On @npr.org All Things Considered discussing @thelap.bsky.social judicial misconduct complaint against Judge Sarah Merriam with @carriejohnson.bsky.social one.npr.org?sharedMediaI...

💥Happy Scary Boom Booms 💥 Day to all who celebrate ! 🎇 🎆

Advocacy group accuses US appeals court judge of mistreating law clerks @nateraymond.bsky.social reut.rs/3YOawOy

Judge Accused of Bullying Clerks, Creating ‘Culture of Fear’ (1) A legal nonprofit accused a federal appeals court judge of mistreating her law clerks, despite her pledge to improve after an earlier judicial decision found her management style could be “overly harsh.”

A legal nonprofit accused a federal appeals court judge of mistreating her law clerks, despite her pledge to improve after an earlier judicial decision found her management style could be “overly harsh.”

The federal judiciary has long exploited law clerks’ fears of retaliation - which they’re *not* legally protected against, since the entire federal judiciary is exempt from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act - to chill judicial misconduct complaints. That ends now. @thelap.bsky.social @npr.org