AI-written summary of reporting by Associated Press. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a federal court on Thursday that an administrative judge who suspended a sexual harassment case brought by two female prison guards did so 'in error' and that the pause was an 'isolated incident,' according to a court document filed by EEOC Chief Operating Officer Sharon Rose.

Associated Press

EEOC says administrative judge paused prison guards' harassment case in error

EEOC says administrative judge paused prison guards' harassment case in error
Aug 14, 2026, 6:53 PM

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a federal court on Thursday that an administrative judge who suspended a sexual harassment case brought by two female prison guards did so 'in error' and that the pause was an 'isolated incident,' according to a court document filed by EEOC Chief Operating Officer Sharon Rose.

Context

A labor union and two female prison guards had sued the EEOC, which enforces federal employment anti-discrimination laws, alleging the agency indefinitely suspended proceedings in their case as part of a broader effort to halt all federal-sector class claims pending before agency administrative judges.

The lawsuit cited an administrative judge's order dated Dec. 10, 2025, stating that the sexual harassment case had been paused and that the 'notification applies to all class cases in the federal sector.'

Rose's court filing stated that the EEOC transferred the case to a different administrative judge, who on Monday issued an order scheduling further proceedings.

The court filing also included a letter sent by Justice Department attorney James Harlow to the plaintiffs on Monday, offering the same explanation and asking them to withdraw their motion for a preliminary injunction.

All Perspectives
EEOC / Justice Department: EEOC Chief Operating Officer Sharon Rose said the administrative judge issued the suspension notification 'in error' and that it was an 'isolated incident.' Justice Department attorney James Harlow wrote in his letter to the plaintiffs: 'In short, Defendants agree that processing of federal-sector class complaints should not be suspended.'
Plaintiffs (labor union and two female prison guards): The plaintiffs sued the EEOC alleging it indefinitely suspended proceedings in their sexual harassment case as part of a wider effort to halt all federal-sector class claims pending before the agency's administrative judges. Their motion for a preliminary injunction remained pending at the time of the Thursday filing.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not identify the labor union or the two female prison guards by name.
  • The source does not state the court in which the lawsuit was filed.
  • The source does not state whether the plaintiffs agreed to withdraw their preliminary injunction motion following the government's request.
  • The source does not establish how many other federal-sector class cases, if any, were affected by similar suspension notifications.
  • The source does not identify the administrative judge who issued the Dec. 10, 2025 order or the judge to whom the case was transferred.
  • The source text supplied appears truncated; some material may be missing.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. Associated Press — original

Read the original at Associated Press

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