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A New Jersey municipal court judge is facing a formal ethics complaint alleging he got drunk and sexually harassed female court employees at a party, and made inappropriate comments online about adult entertainment figures. The complaint, filed by the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct on Tuesday and released Wednesday, states that these actions "demean the judicial office and undermine public confidence in the judiciary."

NJ Judge Accused of Harassment : Allegations of Misconduct

Elizabeth Municipal Court Judge Richard Obuch is accused of violating four canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The allegations stem from a December 2023 gathering and his online behavior. Judge Obuch allegedly made inappropriate references to his role as a municipal judge on his law practice website, an attorney referral site, and various social media pages, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

The formal complaint alleges that despite being advised by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, Judge Obuch failed to remove the ethically inappropriate content from his accounts. "By his multiple and varied references to his judicial office, which are ongoing, respondent has used or attempted to use the power and prestige of his judicial office to advance his personal and economic interests," the complaint states.

Party Behavior and Online Interactions

The complaint details Judge Obuch's alleged misconduct at a December 2023 party hosted by the Union County Municipal Court Judge's Association. It claims he drank excessively, urged others to drink with him, prevented a ladies' restroom door from closing, and encouraged a female court employee to exit the room to "take a shot" with him.

Additionally, Judge Obuch allegedly inappropriately touched three female court employees, including kissing them without their consent while in a photo booth, and made several inappropriate and sexually suggestive remarks to them.

The advisory committee found evidence of Judge Obuch "engaging with adult entertainment figures and commenting on their photos in such a way that brings respondent's judicial office into disrepute." The complaint indicates he interacted with accounts "depicting nude women" and made explicit, vulgar comments using an account that included his photo, full name, and attorney status.

Furthermore, the judge reportedly posted a photo "embracing an adult film actress" at an "Exxxotica Convention" and allegedly subscribes to her OnlyFans account.

NJ Judge Accused of Harassment : Violations of Judicial Conduct

Judge Obuch is accused of violating Canon 1, Rule 1.1, which requires judges to "maintain high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved." He is also accused of violating Canon 2, Rules 2.1 and 2.3(A), which mandate judges to "avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety" and prohibit them from "lending the prestige of the judicial office to advance the personal or economic interests of the judge or others or to allow others to do so."

Additionally, Judge Obuch is accused of violating Canon 5, Rule 5.1(A), requiring judges to "conduct their extrajudicial activities in a manner that would not cast reasonable doubt on the judge's capacity to act impartially as a judge, demean the judicial office, or interfere with the proper performance of judicial duties."

Next Steps

Following a preliminary investigation, the advisory committee served Judge Obuch with the formal complaint. He has 20 days to respond with a verified answer, including a full disclosure of facts, affirmative defenses, mitigating circumstances, and any constitutional challenges.

Judge Obuch, who was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in December 1992, is listed as an attorney in good standing. He has served as a municipal court judge in Elizabeth since 2002 and was previously reprimanded in December 2012 for ethical violations related to representing a city official in private matters while serving as an attorney.

The Supreme Court of New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct is represented by disciplinary counsel Maureen G. Bauman. Counsel information for Judge Obuch was not immediately available, and he could not be reached for comment on Friday.