Rules of Court · Part 2 · New Jersey
R. 2:15-17 New Jersey Rules of Court, R. 2:15-17: Action by the Supreme Court, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked
Action by the Supreme Court
(a) Temporary Suspension. The Supreme Court may order the immediate temporary suspension of a judge of the Superior Court, Tax Court, Municipal Court, or Surrogate's Court, with or without pay, from his or her judicial office or from the exercise of his or her judicial duties if the Court finds probable cause to conclude that the judge has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, case law, or other authority and that the judge's continued service while proceedings are pending before the Committee poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice.
(b) Presentments. On review of a Presentment the Supreme Court shall:
(1) issue or order issued a complaint for removal pursuant to Rule 2:14-1; or
(2) require the judge to show cause why a sanction less than removal should not be imposed; or
(3) issue an order adopting the Presentment and imposing public discipline; or
(4) dismiss the complaint with or without issuing a short statement announcing its disposition.
(c) Reports. On review of a Report the Supreme Court shall:
(1) require the judge to show cause why a sanction less than removal should not be imposed; or
(2) dismiss the complaint with or without issuing a short statement announcing its disposition.
(d) Conditions. The Supreme Court’s order of discipline may provide for one or more of the following, either as part of a sanction imposed or as a condition of reinstatement to judicial duties:
(1) substance abuse counseling including, but not limited to, requiring abstinence, testing, and an identifiable commitment to appropriate support groups;
(2) mental health treatment and counseling, together with a finding of fitness to serve by a mental health professional approved by the Court;
(3) such other conditions as may be deemed appropriate.
Note: Adopted July 23, 1974, effective immediately; caption deleted and new caption adopted, text of former Rule 2:15-17 amended and incorporated into Rule 2:15-21, text of former Rule 2:15-14 amended and incorporated into Rule 2:15-17 February 3, 1997 to be effective March 1, 1997; new paragraph (a) adopted and existing text of the Rule amended and designated as paragraph (b) July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; new subparagraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) adopted, and paragraphs (c) and (d) adopted December 2, 2019 to be effective immediately.
Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.
rule 2:15-17 "Action by the Supreme Court" {
(a) Temporary Suspension. The Supreme Court may order the immediate temporary suspension of a judge of the Superior Court, Tax Court, Municipal Court, or Surrogate's Court, with or without pay, from his or her judicial office or from the exercise of his or her judicial duties if the Court finds probable cause to conclude that the judge has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, case law, or other authority and that the judge's continued service while proceedings are pending before the Committee poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice.
(b) Presentments. On review of a Presentment the Supreme Court shall:
(1) issue or order issued a complaint for removal pursuant to Rule 2:14-1; or
(2) require the judge to show cause why a sanction less than removal should not be imposed; or
(3) issue an order adopting the Presentment and imposing public discipline; or
(4) dismiss the complaint with or without issuing a short statement announcing its disposition.
(c) Reports. On review of a Report the Supreme Court shall:
(1) require the judge to show cause why a sanction less than removal should not be imposed; or
(2) dismiss the complaint with or without issuing a short statement announcing its disposition.
(d) Conditions. The Supreme Court’s order of discipline may provide for one or more of the following, either as part of a sanction imposed or as a condition of reinstatement to judicial duties:
(1) substance abuse counseling including, but not limited to, requiring abstinence, testing, and an identifiable commitment to appropriate support groups;
(2) mental health treatment and counseling, together with a finding of fitness to serve by a mental health professional approved by the Court;
(3) such other conditions as may be deemed appropriate.
Note: Adopted July 23, 1974, effective immediately; caption deleted and new caption adopted, text of former Rule 2:15-17 amended and incorporated into Rule 2:15-21, text of former Rule 2:15-14 amended and incorporated into Rule 2:15-17 February 3, 1997 to be effective March 1, 1997; new paragraph (a) adopted and existing text of the Rule amended and designated as paragraph (b) July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; new subparagraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) adopted, and paragraphs (c) and (d) adopted December 2, 2019 to be effective immediately.
}
referenced_by: none
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-09-26; corpus harvested 2026-09-02← R. 2:15-16 · R. 2:15-18 → · 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.