OCEAN COUNTY – The Ocean County Superior Court Judge who was on administrative leave for allegedly throwing a file at a law clerk has been transferred to Burlington County.
That judge, John F. Russo Jr., started his new assignment Tuesday. He’ll work in that county’s civil division.
He was ordered back to work and reassigned by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, who signed the order Friday.
Russo was on paid administrative leave since May 2017, still collecting his $165,000 pay, and receiving a raise to $173,000 July 1, along with all other state judges. He’s been a superior court judge since 2015.
The Ocean County assignment judge, Superior Court Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, had ordered Russo’s paid leave after learning about the alleged file-throwing incident.
Russo may still face disciplinary action from the State Supreme Court in an unrelated matter.
