A state Superior Court judge from Ocean County claims in a lawsuit that he was removed from the bench after clashing with supervising judges over time he spent attending to the needs of his disabled son.

John Russo Jr. said in the suit that he was subjected to a hostile work environment because of his association with his son, 19, who has Down syndrome and a speech disorder and may be bipolar. The judge brought suit against the state judiciary, Ocean County Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford and Presiding Family Judge Madelin Einbinder.

Russo, who was confirmed in December 2015, said in his complaint that he was removed from duty April 12 of this year and told to undergo a fitness for duty evaluation before hearing any more cases. But Ford told Russo that his law clerk had complained about him and that the circumstances could support a hostile work environment if the clerk, who is a woman, is found to have told the truth. Ford also told Russo the adverse action was taken because he had experienced “significant problems adjusting to life as a Superior Court judge” and said the suspension was due in part to his “history of service on the bench,” the suit claims.