Roger Plawker Quoted in New Jersey Law Journal Regarding Judicial Ethics Charges

Roger Plawker, chair of the Attorney Ethics & Professional Misconduct practice group at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., was quoted in a New Jersey Law Journal article titled, “’So Contrived’: Observers are Questioning the Ethics Charges Against This Judge.” The article discusses skepticism by members of the Bar over a disciplinary complaint that was filed against a Mercer County judge who allegedly allowed his secretary to work remotely periodically in 2021 and 2022. As per the article:

Roger Plawker, who has represented judges in disciplinary cases, notes that the secretary in the Hurd case had been approved to work from out of state and received an exemption from New Jersey’s in-state residency requirement for public employees.

Plawker added that Hurd’s discretion was exercised for the benefit of another person, not for his own direct benefit.

“The pandemic world was unprecedented personally and professionally for all involved, judges and lawyers included.  Conduct that took place during or in the wake of the pandemic that seemed perfectly well-intentioned ought to be viewed with grace and treated with utmost leniency,” he said.

“As our industry emerged from the pandemic fog, return-to-work standards ebbed and flowed with recurring inconsistency,” Plawker said.

“While every disciplinary matter is fact-sensitive, the allegations on the face of the complaint would not appear to support a finding that what took place was an abuse of power or impugned the integrity of the judiciary,” Plawker said.