On Monday, August 18, 2025, New Jersey municipal judge Britt J. Simon responded to a formal complaint filed by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct. Simon, who served as a municipal judge for Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Somerville, and Raritan Borough, has been suspended from his judicial duties since February 11, 2025.
The complaint stems from allegations that Simon made inappropriate comments during truancy hearings in Somerset County municipal courts. The committee’s filing accuses Simon of using aggressive and discriminatory language, including threatening to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding undocumented families.
According to the complaint, Simon referred to students as “garbage” and “filth of the earth” and warned a 14-year-old student that continued truancy could result in ICE detaining them or their parents. In one instance, he reportedly stated, “You miss another day of school and I’m going to personally have ICE here to pick you up.”
In his response, Simon acknowledged raising his voice and using what he described as “empty threats” during hearings. He explained that his approach was an attempt to motivate chronically absent students to attend school regularly.
In an email to Presiding Judge Gerard Shamey, included in the filing, Simon wrote, “I have tried speaking to the kids, then yelling, then empty threats. Nothing works.” He emphasized that his intention was to encourage attendance, not to intimidate families.
Simon’s legal team argued that his remarks were a strategic effort to steer students back to education without resorting to punitive measures like fines, which he avoided issuing to low-income families. “I am not going to fine a non-English speaking single mother that works two full-time jobs,” Simon stated. “Our fine means that family doesn’t eat that night.”
Additionally, Simon claimed he received no formal training on handling truancy cases and had sought guidance from Shamey, who allegedly did not provide assistance. He also disputed claims that he was counseled about his conduct, citing phone records and emails as evidence that no such discussions took place.
The complaint alleges that Simon violated several judicial conduct canons, including failing to uphold the law, exhibiting bias, and using inappropriate language.
In response, Simon denied the charges and requested the complaint’s dismissal, asserting that his actions were driven by compassion and a desire to address truancy effectively. His filing described his approach as a “last-ditch effort” to connect with students emotionally and prevent further absenteeism, denying any intent to exceed his judicial authority.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
