Ex-magistrate claims misconduct rife at Virginia Beach office

A former magistrate claims she was fired for reporting on-the-job sexual harassment amid rampant alcohol and drug abuse at the Virginia Beach magistrate’s office.

Delaware attorney Karly R. Cahill has sued the Virginia Supreme Court’s administrative office under Title VII saying she was subject to a sexually hostile work environment and was fired in retaliation for complaining.

Cahill’s lawsuit describes seven incidents of sexual harassment by co-workers. After she complained, and after reporting an alleged assault by another magistrate at her home, she was fired May 2, 2018, on the pretext that she was intoxicated and used profanity with police officers in reporting the assault, her complaint says.

To refute the reasons given for termination, Cahill recounted seven incidents of public intoxication involving magistrates, some while on the job. One former magistrate allegedly became so intoxicated at a training session in Richmond that he vomited in the Supreme Court building. She said the “rampant” alcohol and drug abuse at the office belied the reasons given for her firing.

“Prior to her firing, it was no secret that the prevalent use of alcohol and profanity was common with those employed in the Virginia Beach Magistrate’s Office,” the complaint said.

Cahill’s suit was filed July 27 in Norfolk federal court and assigned to U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. Cahill seeks $14,000 in lost wages and $300,000 in compensatory damages. She is represented by Michael L. Donner Sr. of Glen Allen.

A spokesperson for the defendant Supreme Court Office of Executive Secretary was not available for comment.

Cahill was admitted to the Delaware bar in December 2015. She started with the Virginia Beach magistrate office July 24, 2016, after serving a one-year judicial clerkship, according to her complaint to the EEOC. Her Delaware license is currently on inactive status.