Judge Eleanor Ross of Atlanta has issued a second apology regarding her misconduct, including an affair conducted in her court chambers. Her recent letter stated that her actions were “patently wrong” and expressed deep regret.

The apology follows a report from The New York Times detailing the judge’s actions and subsequent demands from some House Republicans for her impeachment.

Judge Ross, a long-serving jurist in federal court, acknowledged her unethical behavior in letters addressed to her former clerks. The admissions come amid censure and calls for more severe consequences. Former clerks criticized her initial apologies as dismissive and inadequate.

The incident highlights the leniency often extended to federal judges, who are appointed for life. Additionally, it raises concerns about the current disciplinary system, as accountability for judges largely depends on their peers.

The controversy began after a New York Times report included interviews with three former clerks describing incidents where her misconduct was evident. They reported hearing intimate encounters through her office door and noted her tendency to delegate duties excessively, rubber-stamping draft orders without thorough review.

Reportedly, one clerk disclosed her behavior last year, prompting a judicial committee inquiry that resulted in a private reprimand last month.

Judge Ross agreed to send apology letters to six former clerks following the punishment from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit’s judicial council. However, The Times revealed that some clerks found her brief, vague apologies unsatisfactory.