A New Jersey judge who last year sued the state judiciary, and who is now accused of violating ethics rules for his conduct in Family Court, is pushing back against those ethics charges.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge John Russo Jr., who claimed in a suit filed last year that he was harassed over the amount of time he spent caring for his disabled son, has been on paid administrative leave since May 2017.

In an answer to a complaint lodged earlier this year by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, Russo has denied violating ethics rules. The answer, dated May 15, was made public May 18.

“Respondent has a good reputation and character,” said his lead attorney, David Corrigan, who heads a firm in Keyport. “During his time on the bench in Superior Court, respondent worked hard, was caring and compassionate about litigants … and handled cases efficiently.”

Russo said his suspension puts him at a disadvantage in answering the complaint because he doesn't have access to files and documents, and he thus declines to directly address several allegations, but he nevertheless contends that the complaint contains factual inaccuracies.