Middletown-based attorney can continue private practice
By John Burton
Nine Monmouth County municipalities are without their usual judge with a rare judicial order removing the longstanding member of the bench, Richard Thompson.
Monmouth County Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thornton confirmed that the Monmouth County Vicinage in Freehold signed an order Oct. 23 mandating that Thompson, a Middletown-based attorney, step down from his role as municipal court judge and preventing him from serving in any judicial capacity until a further order from the court. The order also requires Thompson to relinquish any compensation from those positions for the duration.
Thompson maintains a law office at 222 State Highway 35, in Middletown with a Red Bank mailing address. He had been serving as judge in Two River towns of Colts Neck, Middletown, Oceanport, and Rumson. He also served in Tinton Falls, Bradley Beach, Union Beach, Neptune City, and Eatontown, according to Thornton’s order.
The order, however, does not affect Thompson’s ability to continue operating his private law practice.
Thornton’s order was issued after her office was made aware that Thompson “may have violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by failing to follow the statutes, policies and procedures for sentencing penalties and fines.” Thompson was regarded by defense attorneys to be a tough judge who often imposed high penalties.
Thornton’s order also refers the matter to the state’s Judiciary Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct for further investigation.
The State Judiciary, which made Thornton’s order available, has no additional information on the matter, said spokeswoman Winnie Comfort.
Rumson, where Thompson had served for a number of years, paid Thompson about $30,000 a year, with his current contract running through 2016, according to Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl.
With Thompson unable to serve, the Rumson court is relying on James Berube for now, according to Ekdahl.
Berube currently also serves as Municipal Court Judge for Shrewsbury and Little Silver. No replacements have been named in Colts Neck, Middletown or Oceanport as of yet but the state Judiciary said they would work with municipalities to find replacements.
