‘I’m Not A Drunk, I’m A F****** Judge,’ Man Tells NJ Troopers

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A municipal court judge who presides part-time in several New Jersey towns has been accused of going on a drunken, expletive-filled rant after a pair of state troopers allegedly found him pulled over and asleep at the wheel on the shoulder of I-80.

On Thursday, the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) announced that it filed a formal complaint against Wilfredo Benitez for his alleged actions during a motor vehicle stop in November 2016.

According to a statement from the ACJC, Benitez served as a part-time municipal judge in East Orange and Belleville at the time of the incident, positions he still currently holds. He was sworn-in as Bloomfield’s first Hispanic municipal court judge in October 2017 for a three-year term at a salary of $70,359.

The complaint against Benitez alleges that two New Jersey state troopers saw a car pulled over on the right shoulder of I-80 westbound in Teaneck around 2:13 a.m. on Nov. 12, 2016. When one of the officers approached the vehicle, he allegedly found Benitez “asleep in the front seat.”

While speaking to Benitez, the trooper allegedly detected “the strong odor of alcohol” on his breath and saw that his eyes were “bloodshot and watery.” He then put Benitez through a series of field sobriety tests, which he failed.

Benitez’s alleged response? “What are you trying to do? I’m a judge.”

When the municipal court judge was handcuffed, he allegedly tried to walk away from the scene. When one of the troopers told him that he was under arrest, Benitez began to protest.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” he allegedly told the officers. “I’m not a f****** drug addict. I’m not a drunk… I’m a f****** judge.”

His arresting officers weren’t impressed with his legal background, according to the complaint.

“I’m going to read you the Miranda warning,” one of the troopers told Benitez. “I’m sure you know it.”

According to the trooper’s account of the incident, Benitez began yelling after he made his Miranda warning-related quip.

“You’re wasting your time and you know it,” the municipal judge allegedly said. “I’ll fight you. You know you’re being a di**. I will f****** fight you.”

Benitez was eventually taken to the NJ State Police substation in Totowa and issued a summons for driving under the influence of alcohol. A Bergen County Superior Court judge found him not guilty of the DUI charge in May of 2017.

However, a ACJC complaint was lodged on Jan. 24 against Benitez due to his alleged profanity towards police and his request for preferential treatment because of his judicial office.

According to the ACJC complaint, Benitez admitted that he “took umbrage at being treated like a common criminal” during the encounter. He also admitted that he told the officers about his position as a judge in the hope of getting special treatment.

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Town of Belleville photo of Wilfredo Benitez