In 2007, a municipal prosecutor in Mercer County cooperated with the F.B.I. who was investigating the judge of the municipality where the prosecutor worked. Somehow, the prosecutor's cooperation was disclosed to local authorities and the municipal court judge. Tension began to mount immediately.   Later, the prosecutor contacted the local police chief and told him that the municipal court judge appeared to be inebriated at a court session. The incident was further reported to the county’s presiding judge for the municipal court system and later, ethics committee.  At that point, the municipality posted a job opportunity for prosecutors and the prosecutor ultimately lost her job.

Ultimately, the ousted prosecutor filed an action against the municipality under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act. Recently, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the prosecutor in the amount of  $1.3 million.

As a side note, the Supreme Court permanently enjoined the municipal court judge subject of the controversy from judicial office. The basis of that decision was that the judge mistreated litigants and lawyers who appear before him, participated in court sessions influenced by alcohol and drugs and otherwise acted improperly in public which included an event in which he was involved in an altercation in a local bar.