On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court suspended a municipal judge for two months without pay due to violations of judicial conduct related to his social media activity.
Judge Robert M. LePore, who serves part-time in Point Pleasant Beach, faced disciplinary action after a state ethics panel determined that his personal Facebook usage compromised the impartiality expected from his position.
The ethics complaint, filed by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, highlighted LePore’s public endorsements of law enforcement, political candidates, and local businesses on social media. These endorsements raised serious concerns regarding his ability to remain neutral while serving on the bench. Despite warnings about the ethical implications of his actions, LePore did not remove the contentious content from his profile.
Among the problematic activities cited, LePore “liked” a Facebook group that criticized New Jersey’s bail reform laws, which he is responsible for enforcing. Additionally, he maintained visible connections with local attorneys, realtors, and political figures on the platform, further blurring the lines of judicial impartiality.
The New Jersey Supreme Court found that LePore breached multiple rules governing judicial conduct, including the obligation for judges to uphold neutrality, avoid improper behavior, and safeguard the integrity of the court system.
In addition to the suspension, which is set to commence on June 4, 2025, the court mandated that LePore undergo at least four hours of in-person training focused on systemic and implicit bias before he is permitted to return to his judicial duties.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
