A US federal judge, Roy Altman, is facing a formal judicial complaint over his outspoken pro-Israel advocacy and comments that have been described as anti-Palestinian and potentially Islamophobic.
Florida lawyer Katherine Giannamore filed the complaint with the Eleventh Circuit Court, accusing Altman of using his judicial position to promote political views and warning that his conduct could undermine public confidence in the impartiality and independence of the judiciary.
According to the complaint, Altman has made frequent public appearances, podcast interviews and social media posts focused on Israel. Giannamore alleges that some of these activities were carried out during working hours and, in some cases, involved judicial resources.
One of the incidents highlighted in the complaint occurred in April, when Altman appeared on a podcast hosted by the Middle East Forum, a conservative organisation. During the interview, he referred to the keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf and widely recognised symbol of Palestinian identity, as a “terrorism scarf.”
Altman has also spoken extensively on college campuses and in churches, defending Israel against accusations of human rights abuses. In another public appearance, he said there was no distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.
The judge has also made comments about Muslims and Arabs that Giannamore argues could contribute to perceptions of bias. In June, Altman described the conflict as involving Israel and a much larger Muslim population, while alleging that many Muslims had been raised to support the destruction of Israel.
Altman, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump in 2019, has also promoted a self-published book defending Israel and frequently advocates for judicial trips to the country.
Giannamore’s complaint questions the appropriateness of judges participating in such trips, particularly where judges may later preside over cases involving Israel, Palestinians, Arabs or Muslims.
US federal judges are appointed for life, but judicial misconduct complaints can be reviewed by the chief judge of the relevant federal appeals court. Depending on the circumstances, a complaint may be dismissed or referred to a special committee for investigation. In exceptional cases, sanctions can include restrictions on a judge’s case assignments.
Giannamore acknowledged that her complaint may not result in disciplinary action against Altman but said raising the issue was important for public accountability.
Altman had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
The controversy comes as US courts continue to handle politically sensitive cases connected to the Israel-Palestine conflict, including cases involving pro-Palestinian activists and immigration actions linked to protests over the war in Gaza.
