Camden Co. Judge Violated Conduct Policy, NJ Supreme Court Rules

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A judge broke judicial-conduct rules while presiding in Camden County, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled May 31. The state's high court publicly reprimanded Michael J. Kassel for behaving unprofessionally during his temporary assignment to family court.

Kassel has been a judge in the New Jersey Superior Court of Camden County since 2001, primarily assigned to the Civil Division. Amid a judge shortage across the state, he was temporarily re-assigned to preside over family-law cases for two months in 2021.

In April, a judicial advisory committee presented its findings on Kassel to the state supreme court. During his temporary assignment, Kassel repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the assignment, telling litigants more than a dozen times that he lacked expertise in family law. He also appeared without his robe and propped his feet up on his desk, according to the report from the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.

• Read more: Camden Co. Judge's Lack Of Professionalism Merits Reprimand: Committee

In its presentation of findings to the state supreme court, the advisory committee said Kassel shouldn't face discipline besides a public reprimand. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner agreed with the committee's conclusion.

Kassel accepted the findings and waived his right to contest them, according to court documents.

During the temporary assignment, Kassel violated the following the Code of Judicial Conduct's professional requirements to:

• establish, maintain and enforce "high standards of conduct so the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary is preserved."
• act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the courts.
• maintain professional competence in their judicial duties.
• wear judicial robes during proceedings in open court.

While investigators found Kassel's conduct "grossly inappropriate," the committee recognized Kassel's 20 years on the bench and his acknowledgment that he "could have and should have worked harder to prepare for and understand" family law.

New Jersey's judge shortage has persisted, reaching a new low in February when Rabner suspended civil and divorce trials — outside of limited circumstances — in six of the state's counties. Last month, Rabner told the State Bar Association that 75 of New Jersey's 433 trial-court judgeships remained vacant.

Under state law, it's Gov. Phil Murphy's duty to nominate judges. The State Senate then vets, interviews and holds votes on whether to confirm candidates.

The crisis loomed for several years as a large number of retirements plus COVID-19 restrictions on the courts created a growing total of judicial vacancies.