On March 10, 2025, The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the removal of Municipal Judge R. Douglas Hoffman for misconduct during a 2022 incident where he inappropriately touched his court clerk at his Long Beach Islan home. At the time, Hoffman had been as a part-time municipal judge in Robbinsville for over a decade.
An investigation arose after Hoffman’s court clerk accused Hoffman of inappropriate and non-consensual touching during an incident at his beach home in October of 2022. According to the court decision, Hoffman invited his staff to his home, where he and the clerk consumed alcohol. The judge, then 75, questioned the clerk, who was 27, about her romantic relationship and encouraged her to end it. During this interaction, he touched her knee and slid his hand up her inner thigh to her crotch. The clerk reported the incident to her supervisor the same day and later resigned due to fear and emotional trauma. Hoffman denied any sexual intent, claiming the touches were "reassuring taps" and that he did not know where he had touched her leg.
Hoffman's defense argued that the punishment was excessive and compared his actions to past cases, but the Court rejected his arguments, citing the evolving standards and mandatory harassment prevention training for judges.
In the Court’s decision, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner described Hoffman’s misconduct as “blatant and severe” and undermined public trust in the judiciary act. The Court also noted the Hoffman’s demeanor during the proceedings appeared flippant and disrespectful, further justifying his removal, and expressed a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct in the judiciary.