The New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct has recently charged the Municipal Court Judge of Philipsburg with misuse of his office in a dispute involving his son's motor vehicle.  In this case, a juvenile damaged a car owned by the judge's son.  Thereafter, the judge went to the police station to determine whether law enforcement agents had contacted the juvenile's parents.  When the mother ultimately called headquarters, she was told that the "judge" was interested in speaking with her.  When the mother finally contacted the judge, it is alleged that the judge berated her for her lack of supervision.

The ACJC alleged that the judge's effort to enlist law enforcement agents to contact the juvenile parents was a deliberate show of force.  In addition, it was said that the judge displayed a lack of candor in responding to the committee's request and that his conversation with the juvenile's mother was improperly intemperate.