Reporter raises concern at Sayreville meeting about municipal judge's recent censure by state Supreme Court

A New Brunswick community reporter raised concerns during the public‑comment portion about disciplinary action recorded by the New Jersey Supreme Court against the borough’s municipal judge and asked the mayor and council to explain vetting and the appointing process.

Charlie (New Brunswick Today) told the council he had reviewed public records and identified a disciplinary order from the New Jersey Supreme Court finding that Judge Spencer B. Robbins should be censured for recordkeeping and cooperation with disciplinary authorities (decision referenced as DRB 24-090 and dated Dec. 3, 2024 in the documents the reporter cited). The reporter said he had tried to contact the judge’s office for comment and was still seeking the judge’s response.

Mayor (as recorded in the minutes) said the council submitted the name to the assigning judge and that the assigning judge approved the appointment. The mayor also said he considers the municipal judge to have ‘done a commendable job’ locally. The reporter asked the council to review the vetting process in light of the disciplinary record; the meeting record shows no additional action was taken at that session beyond acknowledging the reporter’s statements and the mayor’s reply.

Why it matters: Municipal judges preside over local ordinance and municipal court matters; disciplinary records bearing on ethical or professional standards are a public concern for communities. The reporter asked the governing body to consider whether the appointment process adequately accounted for the disciplinary findings and invited further discussion or explanation from the judge or the appointing authorities.