Was the Judge Mortified or Just Horny?

Accused family court judge says he doesn't remember alleged inappropriate behavior
The Asbury Park Press by Michelle Sahn  -  February 15, 2012

An Ocean County family court judge accused of inappropriately touching women and making inappropriate comments at a holiday party says he does not remember doing so, but “does not question the perceptions of those who have alleged otherwise.”  If it happened, it may have been the result of “having a little too much to drink,” and state Superior Court Judge Marquis D. Jones Jr. is mortified, according to a legal document filed by his attorney last week.  According to the Jan. 18 complaint filed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, the holiday party was hosted by the Ocean County chapter of the Probation Association of New Jersey. Jones, who has been a judge since 2008 and sits on the bench in Toms River, was invited to the party by a probation officer who worked in the Child Support Enforcement Unit and appeared before him in court on a weekly basis, the complaint said. During the party, Jones “inappropriately touched multiple female probation officers and an employee of the establishment at which the party was held, without their consent, and made several inappropriate and/or sexually suggestive remarks to these women,” according to the complaint. In his formal answer to that complaint, Jones, 53, said he attended the party in Toms River in December 2010 at the invitation of a member of the Ocean County Probation Department. Jones said he simply thought it was a gathering of probation employees and had never heard of the Probation Association of New Jersey until he received a letter from the advisory committee in July. That letter was his first notice of the alleged inappropriate conduct, he said in the legal documents filed by his Toms River-based attorney, William Cunningham.

Formal response
According to Jones’ formal answer filed with the court: Jones paid for his own drinks and bought drinks for others at the party. He “does not have any recall of inappropriately touching anyone or making inappropriate comments,” the answer said. “However, Respondent (Jones) does not question the perceptions of those who have alleged otherwise. He does not have a present intention to require their personal appearance and testimony in this matter. However, if Respondent was inappropriate, it was perhaps the result of having a little too much to drink, in the Holiday spirit.” The judge “has taken steps, both before and after this event, to see to it that such conduct will never happen again.” He is “embarrassed and mortified by the events in question” and apologizes to those who were offended, to the judiciary and to his family. Officials have said Jones will remain on the bench until the committee members make a recommendation to the state Supreme Court about what, if any, action should be taken. If the committee determines he committed misconduct, it can recommend a reprimand, censure, suspension or his removal from the bench. His attorney said because of the sensitive nature of the matter, it would be inappropriate for him to comment at this time. Michelle Sahn: msahn@njpressmedia.com