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Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) Complaint Review Process

Judicial Complaint Review Process

When the ACJC receives a complaint, it reviews the information submitted to make sure that the judge has been accused of something that actually violates the Judicial Code of Conduct. After the review, the committee will either

  1. Dismiss the Complaint – If, after reviewing the complaint, the committee finds no wrongdoing by the judge, it will dismiss the complaint and inform the person who filed the complaint, in writing, of the dismissal; or
  2. Request an Investigation – If, after reviewing the complaint, the committee believes an investigation is necessary, it will direct staff to investigate the claims of misconduct made in the complaint.

Following an investigation, the committee may:

  1. Dismiss the complaint;
  2. Privately discipline a judge; or
  3. File formal charges against a judge.

formal Complaints -- If, after reviewing a complaint, the committee believes formal charges should be filed against a judge, it will file a formal Complaint.

What is public?

All complaints filed with the ACJC and any action taken by the committee are confidential unless and until the committee files formal charges against a judge.

formal complaints, answers to formal complaints and all further actions taken by the committee are public.

Once a judge files an answer, a public hearing is scheduled.

Following a hearing, the committee may recommend an outcome to the New Jersey Supreme Court. The New Jersey Supreme Court is the only body that may publicly discipline a judge.

Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct Procedures

The committee's procedures begin with the filing of a complaint against a judge. All complaints filed with the committee and any action taken by the committee is confidential unless and until the committee files formal charges against a judge.

After its initial review of a complaint, the committee may take one of the following actions:

  1. Dismiss the Complaint – If, after reviewing the complaint, the committee finds no wrongdoing by the judge, it will dismiss the complaint and inform the person who filed the complaint, in writing, of the dismissal; or
  2. Request an Investigation – If, after reviewing the complaint, the committee believes an investigation is necessary, it will direct staff to investigate the claims of misconduct made in the complaint.

Following an investigation, the committee may:

  • Dismiss the complaint;
  • Privately discipline a judge; or
  • File formal charges against a judge.

formal Complaints -- If, after reviewing a complaint, the committee believes formal charges should be filed against a judge, it will authorize the filing of those charges in the form of a formal Complaint.

  • formal Complaints, Answers to formal Complaints and all further actions taken by the committee are public.
  • Once a judge files an Answer, a public hearing is scheduled.
  • Following a hearing, the committee will advise the New Jersey Supreme Court of its recommendation as to what, if any, public discipline should be imposed on a judge. The New Jersey Supreme Court is the only body that can publicly discipline a judge.