Judge Palmer Censured

11/7/18 – NJ Supreme Court censured County Superior Court Judge James Palmer Jr. for complaining to court staff about his child support obligations, because such conduct could be construed as exerting his judicial influence on a personal matter, even if he didn’t intend it that way.

Palmer was privately reprimanded in October 2015 for being arrogant and aggressive toward two litigants in separate matters. The second occurred in January 2017, when he exhibited the same behavior toward two other litigants, the presentment said.

“Respondent’s continued inability to conform his conduct to the Codes of Judicial Conduct over the past several years, despite the recent receipt of prior discipline and his more than nine-year tenure on the bench, necessarily aggravates his abuse of the judicial office in this instance and must be met with enhanced discipline,” the presentment said.