On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the New Jersey Supreme Court dismissed an ethics complaint against Superior Court Judge Douglas Hurd. The court’s unanimous decision addressed allegations that Hurd improperly allowed his secretary to work remotely for six months in 2022, in violation of established Judiciary policies that require in-person attendance.
The complaint, filed in January by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC), claimed that Hurd either knew or should have known that his secretary was not permitted to work from home. Hurd acknowledged granting her remote work permission but maintained that he believed he had the discretion to do so under the circumstances.
The ACJC asserted that Hurd abused his judicial authority by permitting the remote work arrangement, arguing that it was against the rules designed to regulate the conduct of judicial staff. In their complaint, the panel emphasized that Hurd’s actions benefited his secretary in violation of the established guidelines.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court examined the details of the case and concluded that there were no violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The court’s 7-0 decision effectively dismissed the pending disciplinary complaint, indicating that Hurd’s actions did not warrant further investigation or sanctions.
The New Jersey Supreme Court’s swift decision to clear Hurd removed the matter from the ACJC’s purview, preventing a prolonged review process.
Hurd has been serving as a civil court judge in Mercer County since his nomination by Governor Jon Corzine in 2009 and was renominated for a tenured position in 2016. He is set to continue his role until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2039.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
