A U.S. judicial conduct panel has upheld a private reprimand issued to a federal judge who engaged in an affair with a police officer, according to a report by Reuters Canada. The decision, announced May 26, 2026, confirms disciplinary action against the judge for conduct deemed inappropriate under judicial ethics standards.

This case marks a rare public acknowledgment of private disciplinary measures within the federal judiciary, where most reprimands remain confidential unless appealed or escalated. The panel's decision to uphold the reprimand signals that the judge's conduct violated ethical guidelines governing judicial behavior, even when sanctions are not made fully public.

The reprimand stems from the judge's relationship with a police officer, a situation that raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety. Federal judges are expected to avoid relationships that could compromise their impartiality or create the perception of bias, particularly with law enforcement personnel who may appear in cases before the court. The panel found sufficient grounds to maintain the disciplinary action, though the specific details of the relationship and the judge's identity were not disclosed in the Reuters report.

The judicial conduct system allows judges to challenge reprimands through an appeals process, which this judge pursued. The panel's decision to uphold the original sanction indicates that the reviewing body found the initial disciplinary action appropriate and proportionate to the ethical breach.