The federal court system currently offers limited recourse for law clerks who experience abuse or harassment by judges. The Transparency and Responsibility in Upholding Standards in the Judiciary (TRUST) Act aims to change that. This new bill would ensure that federal judges accused of misconduct are investigated and held accountable — even after they leave the bench.

Without accountability, cycles of abuse persist. Clerks and other employees may be retraumatized and discouraged from reporting misconduct, allowing harmful behavior to continue unchecked.