Lydia Kay Griggsby Federal

Lydia Kay Griggsby, a U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland since 2021, acknowledged to investigators that the atmosphere in her chambers "at times resulted in an abusive workplace," according to an order made public by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The order followed a law clerk's complaint alleging bullying, harassment, verbal abuse, and erratic behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the order, Griggsby expected clerks to give her exact, on-demand updates on roughly 200 assigned cases and would "unleash a verbal browbeating" if they couldn't provide the details instantly. In one specific incident described in the order, Griggsby banged on a chambers bathroom door while a clerk was using it, yelling "that's my bathroom." Griggsby agreed to corrective measures as part of the disciplinary resolution.