Legal Ethics
N.J. Supreme Court Reprimands Judge for Vulgar Language
Posted Sep 30, 2008, 06:31 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A New Jersey judge has been reprimanded for using some choice language in angry responses to lawyers and litigants.
The New Jersey Supreme Court found that Judge F. Michael Giles of Essex County used expletives, vulgarity and disrespectful language on more than one occasion, breaching his duty to protect the dignity of courtroom proceedings, the New Jersey Law Journal reports.
“Common to these complaints was the use of intemperate, vulgar, discourteous and offensive language during judicial proceedings, as well as expressions of disparagement and disrespect for the judiciary,” the opinion (PDF) said.
In one instance, Giles is accused of telling a lawyer: "I said get the [expletive] out of my courtroom. What the [expletive] don't you understand? Shut the [expletive] up and get the [expletive] out of here. I have a meeting this afternoon."
Giles received a reprimand, rather than a suspension, because of mitigating factors. The supreme court opinion said Giles had experienced “profound and tragic familial losses, the death of a child and the resulting responsibility of assuming parental care of his grandchildren. He also suffered serious personal health conditions that impaired his ability to function effectively.”
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