Passaic County Judge Denies He Made Inappropriate Comments

PATERSON, N.J. -- A Passaic County Superior Court judge is denying allegations he made vulgar and sexually suggestive comments in his courtroom, which has landed him before the state Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, Northjersey.com reported.

Passaic County Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Portelli has filed papers with the state Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct refuting charges lodged against him by staffers of the Division of Child Protection and Permancy.
Photo Credit: *nj.gov*

Mary K. Miraglia

10/22/2015 4:00 p.m.

Judge Joseph A. Portelli filed papers with the committee denying any inappropriate remarks in his courtroom, Northjersey.com said. The committee issued a formal complaint against Portelli last month, alleging that he has made a series of inappropriate remarks to professionals in his courtroom and his judicial chambers.

Charges include the following:

Writing “You look nice today” on a legal pad and showing it to a family service specialist while she was testifying in his court. In a subsequent incident, he showed her a Post-it note that said her nails “looked nice.”
Making a vulgar comment to a deputy attorney general he had called into chambers to admonish for her courtroom demeanor.
Telling a deputy attorney general in chambers another time she could not sit on his lap.

Portelli’s attorney, Ralph Lamparello, responded to the committee in detail denying each of the allegations.

Portelli is a Family Court judge and often hears cases filed by the Department of Child Protection and Permanency against parents. Deputy attorneys general represent the division in these hearings.

Portelli will be up for renomination in June 2016. He was appointed to the bench in 2009, and is 60 years old. If reconfirmed he could serve until mandatory retirement age of 70.

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