This past year judicial ethics were in the limelight when several New Jersey Superior Court judges made statements from the bench that caught the attention of both local and national media. The statements were, to put it mildly, inartful, but they also provoked a conversation about how to, when to, and if we even should, discipline judges. As a young attorney, you will likely be placed in a situation where a judge demonstrates behavior toward you, or your client, that is discourteous, undignified, and/or a plain violation of the judicial code of conduct. But you have an avenue for relief, and as difficult as the decision may be, we should all be familiar with, and use as often as needed, the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics.

The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) is tasked with investigating allegations of unethical judicial conduct. It is comprised of 11 members appointed by the Supreme Court, including at least three retired judges or justices, and no more than five public members who hold no office. The ACJC receives submitted complaints, reviews them, and determines what the next step, if any, will be for the complaint. Thanks to the exceptional judiciary website, filing a complaint is easy. Simply follow the hyperlink under the attorneys tab for “Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics” and fill out a form. All it takes is the names of the attorneys; witnesses; brief statement supporting the allegation of judicial misconduct; then a certification. One may also choose to forgo the form and write a letter with supporting documents.

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