The House Judiciary Committee hosted the hearing on sexual harassment and other forms of workplace discrimination within the federal court system which featured several former law clerks who said they were victimized by federal judges.
According to Courthouse News reporter Megan Mineiro, Jordan was initially in attendance but quickly left once the woman began sharing their stories—suggesting the testimony perhaps hit a bit too close to home.
The first speaker, Olivia Warren, previously clerked for now-dead Ninth Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt. She began her testimony by describing an offensive drawing that was left on her desk to welcome her to her first day of work in the illustrious chambers of America’s judicial system.
“The judge himself asked me whether or not the drawing was quote ‘accurate,’ with a look that indicated whether or not it resembled my own breasts,” Warren said.
“I am not here to condemn Judge Reinhardt,” Warren noted—before later remarking upon the swirl of conflicting emotions she felt at his memorial service. “The juxtaposition of my anger and my grief and my shame was impossible to bear. The harassment had ceased.”
Warren said she chose to speak up only now, however, because the fear of retaliation was finally gone.
“My fear of retaliation is lessened because Judge Reinhardt is no longer on the bench,” she said. “My courage is bolstered by the brave women who have come before me.”
She also described the deceased judge’s disgusting behavior in lurid detail—but punctuated her testimony with a message of hope: