Judge's PR-firm leadership fuels ethics questions as firm collapses

Trump-appointed federal appeals judge Jennifer Mascott ran Adfero, a Washington public affairs firm, for at least six months after her Oct 2025 confirmation, overseeing staffing and client relations while continuing full-time judicial duties. The arrangement drew scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and partisan influence, contributed to a wave of resignations, and led to Adfero’s closure in June 2026. Experts describe it as a gray area under judicial ethics rules; Mascott says she complied and recused when appropriate. The episode underscores ongoing debates over ethics guardrails for judges.