We supported the judicial investigation into the accusations against Mr. Kozinski. As lawyers, we understood the importance of fact-finding in uncovering hard truths, and the legitimacy that fair processes afford. So has Mr. Kozinski. In a dissent in an ethics case, Mr. Kozinski wrote that “fully and fairly” investigating and disciplining a fellow judge is uncomfortable, but urged his colleagues not to shy away from the important task, for the sake of judicial integrity. Now, through his lawyer, Mr. Kozinski has said that he does not fear the results of an inquiry, but is “unwilling to put the people and the institution he cared about through that.” (Mr. Kozinski receives his federal pension.)

#MeToo is about more than stopping harassment. It should also be about addressing the ways society may allow men to get away with misconduct.

Sexual harassment often persists because third parties are silently complicit in it. #MeToo requires some retrospection from people who are not harassers themselves. What should people do when there are rumors that a friend, colleague or mentor acts inappropriately toward women in professional settings? And now, what should people do when there are corroborated allegations?

The absence of a formal reckoning does not mean we should continue on like nothing happened at all. Looking only forward, without reckoning with the past, risks failing women in the profession, as men who have been accused of serious misconduct in the workplace are permitted to return without so much as a caveat.

Where formal processes fail or are subverted, the legal community should insist on informal reckonings before any rehabilitation, rather than turn a collective blind eye to allegations of harassment.

Those affording Mr. Kozinski a public platform now should at the very least consistently acknowledge that he was accused of sexual harassment by many women. Institutions may also want to consider breaking their silence; law schools, legal organizations and the bar could make clear that they will not tolerate harassment from anyone, regardless of his or her status.

To usher Mr. Kozinski back into professional circles without qualification implies a deference that is stunning in light of the circumstances of his retirement. That choice paves the way for a next step — perhaps a speaking engagement on a panel or at a conference or a law school, or an opportunity to consult with a law firm and interact with junior associates. That process may already be in the works; in his radio interview, Mr. Kozinski talked about his plan to teach. Formerly a frequent presence on law school campuses, Mr. Kozinski was specifically accused of thumbing a law student’s breast, among other allegations.