Rules of Court · Part 2 · New Jersey
R. 2:15-10 New Jersey Rules of Court, R. 2:15-10: Action on Completion of Preliminary Investigation, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked
Action on Completion of Preliminary Investigation
On completion of its preliminary investigation, the Committee may:
(a) if it finds that the allegations are without merit, dismiss them and so inform the person who brought the allegations before the Committee, as well as the judge if the Committee so desires; and if the matter has received public attention, the Committee may. at the request of the judge or on the Committee's own motion, issue a short explanatory statement after reasonable notice to the Supreme Court; or
(b) initiate formal proceedings pursuant to Rule 2:15-12; or
(c) if it finds conduct by the judge that does not constitute conduct for which there is probable cause that public discipline should be imposed but that is conduct of the type set forth in Rule 2:15-8(a) or other conduct that would reflect unfavorably on the judicial office if it were to become habitual or more substantial in character,
(1) communicate to the judge its private censure, reprimand, admonition, caution, or guidance concerning the conduct in question and so notify the person who brought the allegations before the Committee, with a copy of the communication being sent to the Chief Justice, the Administrative Director of the Courts, and judge’s Assignment Judge or, if applicable, the Presiding Judge of the Tax Court or the Chief Judge of the Appellate Division. In the exercise of his or her discretion, an Assignment Judge may forward a copy of the communication to the judge’s Superior Court or Municipal Court Presiding Judge, as may be applicable; or
(2) require the judge to appear for an informal conference pursuant to Rule 2:15-11; or
(3) on its own motion or at the request of the judge, issue a short explanatory statement, after reasonable notice to the Supreme Court, if the matter has received public attention and the Committee has determined after the conclusion of a preliminary investigation that there is no basis to initiate formal proceedings, but that private discipline is appropriate consistent with Rule 2:15-10(c)(1).
Note: Adopted July 23, 1974, effective immediately; paragraphs (b) and (c) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; caption and text of former Rule 2:15-10 deleted and new caption and text adopted February 3, 1997 to be effective March 1, 1997; subparagraph (c)(1) amended July 27, 2006 to be effective September 1, 2006; paragraph (a) amended and new subparagraph (c)(3) adopted December 2, 2019 to be effective immediately; subparagraph (c)(1) amended August 14, 202 to be effective September 2, 2020; subparagraph (c)(1) amended August 5, 2022 to be effective September 1, 2022.
Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.
rule 2:15-10 "Action on Completion of Preliminary Investigation" {
On completion of its preliminary investigation, the Committee may:
(a) if it finds that the allegations are without merit, dismiss them and so inform the person who brought the allegations before the Committee, as well as the judge if the Committee so desires; and if the matter has received public attention, the Committee may. at the request of the judge or on the Committee's own motion, issue a short explanatory statement after reasonable notice to the Supreme Court; or
(b) initiate formal proceedings pursuant to Rule 2:15-12; or
(c) if it finds conduct by the judge that does not constitute conduct for which there is probable cause that public discipline should be imposed but that is conduct of the type set forth in Rule 2:15-8(a) or other conduct that would reflect unfavorably on the judicial office if it were to become habitual or more substantial in character,
(1) communicate to the judge its private censure, reprimand, admonition, caution, or guidance concerning the conduct in question and so notify the person who brought the allegations before the Committee, with a copy of the communication being sent to the Chief Justice, the Administrative Director of the Courts, and judge’s Assignment Judge or, if applicable, the Presiding Judge of the Tax Court or the Chief Judge of the Appellate Division. In the exercise of his or her discretion, an Assignment Judge may forward a copy of the communication to the judge’s Superior Court or Municipal Court Presiding Judge, as may be applicable; or
(2) require the judge to appear for an informal conference pursuant to Rule 2:15-11; or
(3) on its own motion or at the request of the judge, issue a short explanatory statement, after reasonable notice to the Supreme Court, if the matter has received public attention and the Committee has determined after the conclusion of a preliminary investigation that there is no basis to initiate formal proceedings, but that private discipline is appropriate consistent with Rule 2:15-10(c)(1).
Note: Adopted July 23, 1974, effective immediately; paragraphs (b) and (c) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; caption and text of former Rule 2:15-10 deleted and new caption and text adopted February 3, 1997 to be effective March 1, 1997; subparagraph (c)(1) amended July 27, 2006 to be effective September 1, 2006; paragraph (a) amended and new subparagraph (c)(3) adopted December 2, 2019 to be effective immediately; subparagraph (c)(1) amended August 14, 202 to be effective September 2, 2020; subparagraph (c)(1) amended August 5, 2022 to be effective September 1, 2022.
}
referenced_by: 2:15-11
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-09-26; corpus harvested 2026-09-02← R. 2:15-9 · R. 2:15-11 → · chapter 2:15 · all rules
The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.