GEORGETOWN, Texas from www,kxan.com - - A former Williamson County judge is at the center of a federal lawsuit. Two former employees of Don Higginbotham have accused him of sexual harassment, verbal abuse and making racial remarks.

"It was just very humiliating," said Kim Lee while wiping tears from her eyes. "I cried a lot in the beginning talking to friends."

Lee, 42, had been Judge Higginbotham's court reporter since he took office in 2000. That is when she recalled one of the first ouf of line comments.

"One time it was a packed courtroom and he said, 'Kim I just need to hang a naked picture of you to clear the courtroom faster,'" said Lee.

Court secretary Sharon McGuyer, said he targeted her, too.

"I was totally disgusted because it was a common occurrence," said McGuyer.

For fear of losing their jobs and benefits, the two continued to put up with it. In October of 2009, the said his words turned more hostile.

"He said, 'I need you to come to the bathroom with me and help me hold it up, it's too heavy. I've got a bad back,"' said Lee.

Some of the comments were even racist.

"He said, 'I hate to tell you this, but in those pants you have the a** of a (racial slur),"' said Lee.

Last December McGuyer had enough.

"I told [Lee] I can't handle this anymore, I'm going to HR,"' said McGuyer. "You can either go with our without me, but I'm going."

They were promised the complaints would be anonymous, but Lee and McGuyer said one day the judge's lawyer, Mike Davis, showed up to their office with their complaints in writing and started asking their co-workers about it.

At one point, the county attorney stepped in and promised to handle it, according to the women. They claim the offensive comments kept coming.

According to the lawsuit, the women could overhear the judge calling people into his office to discuss the complaints the employees had made.

The women said Higginbotham gave them an apology in his office, blaming it on medication and stress brought on by the death of family and friends.

June 2010 the judge retired to take care of all ill family member. Lee and McGuyer said the incoming judge, Doug Arnold, told them they would keep their jobs.

But last Thursday, they said the acting court supervisor, Dan Gattis, Sr. fired them 30 minutes after telling them they would be placed on paid administrative leave.

"He said that we needed to gone by five," said McGuyer. "Start packing your things up. You don't need to tie up loose ends, just be out of here by five."

It was something the two had been trying to avoid all along.

"You expect that in a building that's dispensing justice, that it will be dispensed and that just didn't happen with us so it's just kind of hard to believe in it," said Lee, wiping away tears once again.

The county attorney and Higginbotham's attorney said they had no comment. Higginbotham was out of town Thursday.