Like Ceaser’s Wife

The New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct has recommended a public admonishment of a part-time municipal judge based on findings that the judge’s law firm had made a series of four political contributions in the firm name. The judge had claimed that he was unaware of the contributions and should not be held vicariously liable for the acts of his law partner. The committee concluded that he “cannot avoid responsibility by simply contending that he was not aware of [the contributions]” which were in the form of checks drawn on the firm’s account. The committee emphasized the importance of avoiding an appearence of impropriaty by judicial officers. (Mike Frisch)