Judge Alex Kozinski Should Resign Following Sexual Harassment Allegations
Several women who served as his clerks and externs have accused Federal Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski of sexual misconduct. Kozinski is a veteran of California’s U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. In light of the allegations and Judge Kozinski’s troubling history on related issues, I call on Judge Kozinski to resign.
Given the serious nature of the accusations against him by multiple women and his history of sexual exploitation, Judge Kozinski should resign immediately. Judge Kozinski’s alleged sexual misconduct is unacceptable for any man in any sector of society, and it should certainly not be rewarded with a lifelong seat on a U.S. court of appeals.
In 2008, Judge Kozinski embarrassed the federal judiciary when he was trial judge in a high-profile obscenity case in Los Angeles. After acknowledging that he posted sexually explicit material to a publicly accessible personal website, he was forced to recuse himself and declare mistrial. A panel of 9th Circuit judges investigated the matter and determined that his actions “can reasonably be seen as having resulted in embarrassment to the institution of the federal judiciary.”
No further embarrassment should be allowed from this insensitive judge.