Judicial Conduct Types of Discipline

If the ACJC investigates a complaint and believes that the judge has violated the Judicial Code of Conduct, it may choose to discipline the judge privately. The private discipline would be a letter to the judge that says the ACJC has found wrongdoing and is issuing to the judge either:

1. Guidance;
2. Caution;
3. Admonition;
4. Reprimand; or
5. Censure

The ACJC instead might recommend that the Supreme Court issue public discipline against the judge. Only the New Jersey Supreme Court may publicly discipline a judge. The ACJC could recommend:

1. A dismissal of the case with or without private discipline;
2. Public admonition;
3. Public reprimand;
4. Public censure;
5. Suspension; or
6. Begin proceedings to have the judge removed from the bench.

Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct Judicial Conduct Types of Discipline

The Committee, following an investigation, may privately discipline a judge it finds to have violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. Private discipline, in the form of a letter to the judge, may include one of the following private disciplinary actions:

1. Guidance;
2. Caution;
3. Admonition;
4. Reprimand; or
5. Censure

The Committee, following its filing of a Formal Complaint against a judge and a formal public hearing, may recommend to the New Jersey Supreme Court one of the following public disciplinary actions:

1. Dismissal, with or without private discipline;
2. Public Admonition;
3. Public Reprimand;
4. Public Censure;
5. Suspension; or
6. Institution of removal proceedings.

Only the New Jersey Supreme Court may publicly discipline a judge.