A New Jersey judge’s engagement with social media has led to a formal suspension. The state’s Supreme Court has ruled to suspend Judge Robert M. LePore of Point Pleasant Beach Municipal Court for two months due to his Facebook posts which supported conservative critiques of New Jersey’s bail system overhaul and other political issues. The high court’s decision also dictates that LePore must complete four hours of implicit bias training before resuming his judicial duties.
The decision follows Judge LePore’s own admission during oral arguments last December that his use of social media left him feeling “sickened.”
While the court’s opinion, detailed in its filing earlier this week, does not identify specific posts as breaches, it reflects a growing trend of judicial discipline related to social media conduct. This marks an ongoing effort by the judiciary to maintain the impartiality and integrity of the judicial system amidst increasing political polarization.
In today’s digitized world, this case reminds legal professionals and judiciary members alike of the ethical responsibilities they bear in digital communications as highlighted by the ongoing discourse around the “Blue Lives Matter” posts and similar expressions on social media platforms.