On Tuesday, April 11, a Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct said State Superior Court Judge Michael J. Kassel's behavior constituted a complete departure from ethical standards.
Kassel, who usually works in Camden County’s civil division, was temporarily assigned to the family division in April 2021.
The advisory committee's report included numerous comments from the judge professing his ignorance of family law, such as:
- "I’m not an idiot, but I’m not a family division judge.”
- And: “I am not a family division judge. I am a judge helping out. I am not a family division judge. I have no expertise in family law.”
- And: “I have no expertise in any family law and the best I can do in any case is use some common sense and the legal knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past 20 years. That’s the best I can do.”
- Finally, “The last time I was a family division judge was 18 years ago and we’re doing the best we can under very difficult circumstances.”
Kassel’s remarks “undermine the integrity of the Judiciary and the judicial process, and trivialize the parties’ legitimate interests in seeking redress with the court,” the advisory committee wrote.
A June 2021 litigant alleged that in a virtual hearing, Kassel appeared without his judicial robe and propped his legs up on the desk in front of him.
The Camden County hearing involved issues of parenting time and reunification therapy. The grievant alleged that Kassel "expressed a fundamental lack of understanding of family law, failed to fully review the parties’ submissions, failed to maintain appropriate order and decorum, and demonstrated a bias which necessitated his recusal."
In family court, he allegedly “remarked to litigants and their counsel that he lacked familiarity with their case, was ignorant of the applicable law and inexperienced in adjudicating family court matters, and expressed dissatisfaction with the temporary assignment and the method by which that assignment was made,” the advisory committee wrote in its 23-page opinion.
"Respondent repeatedly professed to counsel and litigants his ignorance of family law, his lack of preparation in the matters before him, and his unwillingness to commit the time and effort necessary to understand and resolve their legal issues," the committee wrote.
The advisory committee reviewed documentation relevant to these allegations, including audio files and transcripts.
The committee's investigation subsequently revealed that Kassel made similar comments to litigants and counsel in at least 15 other matters.
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