Local Judge Faces Formal Complaint

TRENTON — A local judge may be in hot water for some alleged misdeeds that occurred several years ago in the courtroom.
Steven Perskie, a Superior Court judge who presides over civil cases in Atlantic and Cape May counties, had a formal complaint lodged against him on Sept. 9 by Candace Moody, counsel for the state Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.
The complaint charged Perskie with violations of four canons and two rules governing judicial behavior.
According to the complaint, Perskie failed to remove himself in a timely manner from a lawsuit initiated in February 2005 that involved a long-time business associate, political ally and personal friend Frank Siracusa. Perskie also failed to disclose the extent of his relationship with Siracusa, the complaint alleged.
After Perskie remove himself in October 2006, he allegedly visited the courtroom of Judge William Nugent to whom the case was transferred and spoke with lawyers involved in the case.
The complaint further alleges that Perskie lied to a Senate Judiciary Committee about the incident during his reappointment hearing.
According to the complaint, Perskie violated the following:
• Canon 1, which requires judges to observe high standards of conduct
• Canon 2A, which requires judges to respect and comply with the law and to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary
• Canon 2B, which prohibits judges from lending the prestige of their office to advance private interests
• Canon 3C(1), which requires judges to recuse themselves in any proceeding in which their impartiality might reasonably be questioned
• Rule 1:12-1(f), for the conflict of interest
• Rule 2:15-8(a)(6), for bringing the judicial office into disrepute.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com