Jurist’s groping defense: “I was too drunk to remember what happened”
WHAT A HEEL: Ocean County (NJ) Superior Court Judge Marquis Jones, who presides over family court cases, has been accused of violating judicial ethics for (allegedly) touching several female probation officers inappropriately and making sexually suggestive remarks to them during a holiday party in December 2010 hosted by the Ocean County chapter of the New Jersey Probation Association, the union for probation officers, New Jersey Law Journal reports:
Jones claims to have no recollection of the touching or comments but says he "does not question the perceptions" of his accusers and has "no present intention to require their personal appearance and testimony in this matter."
He also states that if he was inappropriate, "it was perhaps the result of having a little too much to drink, in the Holiday spirit." …
Emphasizing that the alleged actions were not intentional, Jones says he nevertheless "takes full responsibility for them," acknowledges they would violate the Code of Judicial Conduct and "submits himself to the recommendations of the [Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct] for whatever action it deems appropriate in this matters."
The ACJC accuses Jones of violating Canon 1 of the code, which requires judges to observe high standards of conduct, and Canon 2A, which requires them to act in a way that promotes public confidence in the judiciary's integrity and impartiality.
It claims that Jones' alleged touching and comments at the party were "offensive and created discomfort and embarrassment," and that he showed poor judgment, disrespect for the judiciary and an inability to abide by the standards of behavior expected of judges. …
Other judges found to have touched court employees inappropriately have received a suspension or reprimand.
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