State judge who told parties he had "no expertise in family law" faces discipline

[TexasTowelie]

A Camden County Superior Court judge is in hot water over a temporary assignment in the vicinage’s family division.

The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct filed a formal complaint Tuesday against Judge Michael J. Kassel, saying he violated court rules and impinged on the judiciary’s integrity by failing to familiarize himself with family law, complaining about his temporary assignment, and repeatedly telling parties he lacked the expertise to adjudicate their cases.

Kassel, who has been a judge for 20 years, was assigned to Camden County’s family division once a week for roughly two months, from April to June 2021.

During his brief stint in family court, Kassel repeatedly complained to parties about his temporary assignment and said he “knew very little about the applicable laws” because he last served in the division 18 years ago, according to the complaint. Kassel has handled civil cases for most of his judicial career.

Read more: https://newjerseymonitor.com/2022/04/20/state-judge-who-told-parties-he-had-no-expertise-in-family-law-faces-discipline/

[tirebiter]

1. He got dinged for being honest?

[OneBro]

3. He got dinged for being lazy.

Instead of complaining about the assignment, he should have taken the time to familiarize himself with the relevant laws. There is nothing particularly complicated about family law.

I do wish more judges were honest when they’ve been too lazy to read the briefs, too lazy to review the law, and too arrogant to give a damn. Alas, they are all too human.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Not only that. Judges have law clerks who research the law for them

and advise via memoranda.

[Deuxcents]

2. Could it be criminal?