NJ Judge Accused of Threatening Juveniles and Targeting Immigrant Families in Truancy Hearings

NEW JERSEY - The New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) has filed a formal complaint against Britt J. Simon, a part-time municipal judge who previously presided in the shared courts of Bridgewater Township, Somerville Borough, Raritan Borough, and Bound Brook. The complaint, filed on July 28, 2025, outlines allegations of inappropriate behavior, discriminatory remarks, and threats made by Judge Simon toward juveniles and parents during multiple truancy proceedings in Bound Brook Municipal Court.

Simon, admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2002, was suspended from judicial duties in February 2025 pending review of the allegations. The ACJC’s complaint accuses him of violating several provisions of the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct, including requirements to act impartially, avoid impropriety, and treat all individuals with dignity and courtesy.

Allegations of Misconduct

According to the complaint, Simon presided over several truancy matters in 2024 and early 2025 where he directly addressed minors—who were not parties to the cases—without involving the municipal prosecutor. The complaint describes Simon as having raised his voice, expressed hostility, and made disparaging and threatening remarks to children accused of school absences.

During one August 2024 hearing, Simon called a 16-year-old “a beggar, piece of garbage” and “vile and contemptuous.” He further threatened that the child’s mother, who was undocumented, could be deported by federal immigration authorities due to the child’s truancy, stating, “Your mother’s going to get deported. You are going to end your mother’s life. You want other people involved in your family business? … Look at your mother, get ready to say goodbye to her”.

In another case, Simon told a female student that if she continued to miss school, he would have her removed from her home and placed in a group home in Newark, warning that she would “have everything you own stolen” and “be beaten.” He also questioned both juveniles and their parents about their immigration status, inquiries that the ACJC noted were irrelevant to the proceedings and risked creating an appearance of ethnic or nationality bias.

A January 2025 hearing involved similar remarks to a 14-year-old student. Simon told the child that “ICE officials wait outside the door for people like you” and threatened to “personally have ICE here to pick you up” if school attendance did not improve.

Violations Cited

The ACJC alleges that Simon violated multiple canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct, including:

• Canon 1, Rules 1.1 and 1.2: requiring judges to observe high standards of conduct and respect the law.
• Canon 2, Rule 2.1: requiring judges to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.
• Canon 3, Rules 3.5 and 3.6: requiring dignified, courteous behavior and prohibiting discrimination or bias based on national origin, ethnicity, or immigration status.

The complaint states that Simon’s conduct demonstrated a failure to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and created a perception of bias. It also highlights that the municipal court has jurisdiction only over charges against parents or guardians—not the children themselves—and that Simon improperly directed questioning and threats toward the minors involved.

Next Steps

The complaint was filed under the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey, Rule 2:15, which governs the ACJC’s disciplinary proceedings. The matter will proceed through the ACJC’s formal process, which can include hearings and recommendations for disciplinary action, ranging from public reprimand to removal from office.

Simon’s suspension from all municipal judicial duties in Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren counties remains in effect while the complaint is pending review.

More information about the ACJC’s procedures and rules is available at njcourts.gov.

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