High Court judge Sir Paul Coleridge has come under scrutiny over comments made at the launch of his new pro-marriage charity, with the Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) handed an official complaint on the matter.

Coleridge launched the Marriage Foundation on 1 May this year in an effort to "increase the rate of marriage and reduce the rate of divorce". Its patrons include high-profile names such as Baroness Ruth Deech and Baroness Fiona Shackleton.

The charity states on its website that its primary aim is "to champion long-lasting, stable relationships within marriage," adding: "There are other organisations which support couple relationships of all types; valuable work but not our mission."

At the opening of the charity earlier this month, Coleridge said: "This is not going to be a cosy club for the smug and self-satisfied of middle England but, we hope, the start of a national movement with the aim of changing attitudes across the board from the very top to the bottom of society, and thus improve the lives of us all, especially children."

In a statement, the OJC said: "The Office for Judicial Complaints has received a complaint in relation to comments that Sir Paul Coleridge is reported to have made.

"That complaint will be considered under the judicial discipline regulations in the usual way. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."

The news comes after the Law Society called off a conference – at which Coleridge was a key speaker – which was set to debate gay marriage at its headquarters this month, due to a conflict with the Society's "role in promoting diversity."

The event, set up by US organisation World Congress of Families in partnership with UK lobbying group Christian Concern, was due to be held at the Law Society's London base next Wednesday (23 May)

However, the Society cancelled the event – titled "One man. One woman. Making the case for marriage, for the good of society"- in light of the topics up for discussion.

Coleridge was appointed as a High Court judge in 2000 after 30 years as a family barrister.