Appeals court judge facing sexual misconduct allegations

A prominent, longtime judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has reportedly been accused of sexual misconduct by six women.

A former clerk to Judge Alex Kozinski, Heidi Bond, told The Washington Post the judge pulled up pornography while she was in his office and asked if she believed the images to photoshopped or if they sexually aroused her. 

The judge was on the verge of becoming the chief judge on the court at the time Bond alleges the incidents took place. 

Kozinski reportedly also asked another clerk at the time to watch porn in his chambers.

{mosads}

Emily Murphy, who had been a clerk for another judge on the 9th Circuit, said that Kozinski once told her he thought she should work out naked. 

Kozinski, who was appointed by former President Reagan in 1985, is the latest powerful man to be accused of sexual misconduct. 

Women across the country have come forward in recent weeks to accuse men from Hollywood to Capitol Hill of sexual misconduct. 

Kozinski pushed back on the allegations in a statement to the Post. 

“I have been a judge for 35 years and during that time have had over 500 employees in my chambers. I treat all of my employees as family and work very closely with most of them. I would never intentionally do anything to offend anyone and it is regrettable that a handful have been offended by something I may have said or done,” he said. 

However, this is not the first time the judge has been accused of inappropriate behavior. 

The Los Angeles Times reported in 2008 that Kozinski had kept an email list that he used to send out off-color, sometimes sexual jokes.