Municipal Judge Faces Judicial Misconduct Charges Over DWI Incident and Candor Violations

Gary M. Price admits to reckless driving after July 2024 accident; formal proceedings initiated by New Jersey’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct

MORRIS COUNTY — A formal judicial misconduct case is proceeding against Gary M. Price, a municipal court judge for the Township of Edison, following a 2024 car accident and subsequent investigation into his conduct, candor, and cooperation with judicial authorities.

The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) filed an amended formal complaint against Judge Price on July 22, 2025, alleging that his behavior both during and after a suspected DWI incident violated several provisions of New Jersey’s Code of Judicial Conduct. Price filed a verified answer through legal counsel on August 12, 2025, and has formally requested a hearing on the matter.

Background of the Incident

On July 5, 2024, at approximately 6:46 p.m., Judge Price was involved in a single-car accident on Park Avenue in South Plainfield, Middlesex County. He struck a construction barrier and sustained injuries, including a broken nose and finger, and facial trauma from airbag deployment. Emergency services responded after an automatic OnStar alert triggered a 9-1-1 call.

Police arriving on scene noted that Price appeared disoriented, had bloodshot eyes, and exhibited the odor of alcohol. When asked, he acknowledged consuming a martini earlier that day at Seasons 52 restaurant in Edison. Due to his injuries, standard field sobriety tests could not be completed, but Price failed verbal cognitive tests—struggling to recite the alphabet and count backward, reportedly stating, "the alphabet never made sense to me".

At the hospital, he consented to a blood test, which revealed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.086%, above the legal limit of 0.08%.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane, though the DWI and lane violation charges were later dismissed. On October 25, 2024, Price pleaded guilty to reckless driving, received a minimum fine of $50, and voluntarily used an ignition interlock device for three months.

Judicial Conduct Allegations

The ACJC’s amended complaint consists of three counts outlining alleged violations of judicial ethics:

Count I: Lack of Candor

The complaint accuses Price of misrepresenting the quantity of alcohol he consumed. He initially claimed—on the scene, in a written response to the ACJC, and under oath in an interview—that he had only one martini. However, a receipt timestamped at 6:15 p.m. on the day of the crash showed two Bombay Sapphire martinis, two vodka Cucumber Basil Smash cocktails, and a full meal. Past receipts also showed similar drink patterns on prior visits to the same restaurant.

The ACJC alleges that these inconsistencies amounted to a lack of honesty, thereby “impugning the integrity of the Judiciary” and violating Canon 1, Rule 1.1 and Canon 2, Rule 2.1 of the New Jersey Code of Judicial Conduct.

Count II: Conduct Unbecoming a Judge

The ACJC claims that Price’s conduct—driving after drinking, causing an accident, being charged, and pleading guilty to reckless driving—violated judicial canons requiring judges to maintain high standards and public confidence in their impartiality and behavior.

Count III: Failure to Cooperate

Price is also accused of failing to timely and fully comply with the ACJC’s investigative requests. Despite repeated inquiries, he did not produce the itemized receipt from his July 5 visit to Seasons 52. During a sworn interview in January 2025, he claimed he had never requested the receipt. Later, he admitted to having written to the restaurant twice—in January and February—requesting the documents, but received no reply. The committee viewed this as a failure to cooperate in accordance with Rule 2:15-7.

Respondent’s Defense

In his verified answer, Judge Price admits to the reckless driving offense and acknowledges his violation of judicial conduct rules, but disputes the scope and intent of the allegations. He insists he consumed only one martini, attributes his poor performance on verbal tests to his injuries, and claims full cooperation with the ACJC’s investigation to the best of his ability.

He also notes that the alcohol in his car—a bottle of Bombay Sapphire and Jack Daniels—was unopened and intended as gifts. He denies that these beverages contributed to the incident.

Next Steps

A formal hearing will be scheduled in accordance with Rule 2:15 of the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey, which outlines procedures for judicial disciplinary actions. The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct is empowered to investigate and recommend sanctions ranging from censure to removal, subject to final review by the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Judge Price continues to serve as a conflict judge in North Brunswick, appearing monthly.

More information on judicial disciplinary rules can be found at njcourts.gov.