Superior Court Judge Gary N. Wilcox.Photo:Administrative Office of the Courts
Administrative Office of the Courts
A New Jersey judge posted TikTok videos featuring him lip-syncing to pop and rap songs that contained controversial and provocative lyrics, a judicial committee accusing him ofviolating conduct rulessays.
The committee alleged that another clip found the judge wearing a suit, holding money, and lighting a match as he singsMiguel’s “Sure Thing," As the song goes, “If you be the cash, I’ll be the rubber band. You be the match, I will be a fuse, boom.”
The complaint referenced another video that Wilcox recorded himself walking through the courthouse wearing aBeavis and Butt-HeadT-shirt with Nas’ “Get Down” playing in the background. The song, said the committee, contains explicit lyrics about a criminal case and a courtroom shooting as well as drug and gang references.
“By his conduct in posting these and similar videos to TikTok, [Wilcox] exhibited poor judgment and demonstrated disrespect for the Judiciary and an inability to conform to the high standards of conduct expected of judge,” the committee said in the complaint, adding that Wilcox’s behavior undermines the public’s faith in the judiciary.
Wilcox has been a New Jersey Superior Court judge since 2011 who oversees criminal court cases in Bergen County,The Washington Postreported.
“Like all music, it will elicit a different response depending on who is listening,” Hille told the outlet, noting that he planned to file a response to the complaint in the coming days.
Wilcox has 20 days to file a formal written answer to the complaint,NorthJersey.comreported. PEOPLE reached out to Hille Thursday afternoon for further comment.
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When it receives the answer, the committee will schedule a hearing. Per theNew Jersey Courtswebsite, the committee could privately discipline the judge or recommend to the New Jersey Supreme Court such public disciplinary actions as a reprimand, censure, suspension, or the start of proceedings to have the judge removed from the bench.
source: people.com
