On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Gary M. Price, a part-time municipal judge in Edison, responded to a misconduct complaint filed by the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC). Price admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to a solo car accident, acknowledging that his actions breached ethical standards expected of judges.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Gary M. Price,” with case number ACJC 2024-518.
The incident occurred on July 5, 2024, when Price crashed his vehicle into a construction barrier in South Plainfield. Following the accident, police officers reported finding blood on his clothing, noting his bloodshot eyes and the presence of alcohol on his breath. Price later revealed that he had consumed a martini at a local restaurant shortly before the crash.
In his formal response to the complaint, Price accepted responsibility for several pertinent facts related to the incident. Despite being charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), those charges were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence to prove intoxication beyond a reasonable doubt. Price did not dispute that his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.086%, slightly above New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%.
Following the crash, Price sustained injuries, including a broken nose and a fractured finger, which he claimed hindered his ability to perform field sobriety tests. As a consequence of the reckless driving charge, he received the minimum fine and voluntarily installed an ignition interlock device in his vehicle.
The New Jersey Code of Judicial Conduct mandates that judges maintain integrity and public trust in the judiciary. In his admission, Price recognized that his behavior fell short of these standards.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
