A disturbing formal complaint has unveiled a pattern of judicial misconduct, accusing a former municipal court judge in Somerset County of terrifying truant children and their mothers with threats of deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This alarming revelation highlights serious questions regarding the ethical boundaries and humanitarian responsibilities within the judicial system.
The comprehensive 13-page complaint, recently released by a judicial advisory board, meticulously details multiple court proceedings overseen by the now-former judge, Britt J. Simon. Formerly presiding over Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Somerville, and Raritan Borough, Simon is formally accused of egregiously violating the judicial conduct code through his repeated intimidation tactics and biased language, creating an environment of fear rather than justice.
One chilling transcript from last August reveals Simon’s direct threats to a 16-year-old: “Your mother’s going to get deported. You are going to end your mother’s life. You want other people involved in your family business? Your mother came to this country to get a better life.” Such statements not only demonstrate a profound lack of empathy but also a weaponization of immigration status against vulnerable minors.
Further intensifying the alarming narrative, in January, shortly after a presidential inauguration, Simon informed a 14-year-old that “there’s a new sheriff in town” and ominously suggested courts were a “great place” for ICE officials to locate individuals facing deportation. He chillingly added, “You think I’m kidding? The ICE officials wait outside the door for people like you,” illustrating a deliberate effort to instill terror.
Simon’s judicial duties have been suspended since February 11, following the state Supreme Court’s advisory committee on judicial conduct filing the formal complaint. The documented instances detail how Simon consistently raised his voice, scolded children in his courtroom, addressed them without a municipal prosecutor present, and subjected their parents to additional public reprimands, further eroding the integrity of the judicial process.
In another troubling interaction from August 13, 2024, Simon told the 16-year-old, “You are vile and contemptuous. You want your mother to get deported?” after coercing information about the mother’s legal documentation. He continued by threatening referral to child protective services, implying those workers might report the mother to ICE, culminating in a dire warning: “Look at your mother, get ready to say goodbye to her.” This showcases a disturbing misuse of authority in truancy cases.
The pattern of intimidation continued in a separate case that same day involving a high school girl frequently late to school. Despite the truancy issue, Simon fixated on the mother’s immigration status, confirming her undocumented status. He then threatened the girl: “How are you going to feel when the law enforcement comes to the house — ICE comes to the house because they get reported this and they deport your mother because of you?”
A third documented case on January 28 involved a 14-year-old girl who had missed a significant number of school days, both she and her parent being undocumented. Simon escalated his threats, asking the girl, “You’re about to get plucked up by the ICE officials and sent back to El Salvador. Do you want to go there?” He then directly threatened, “You miss another day for school and I’m going to personally have ICE here to pick you up,” demonstrating a clear disregard for established legal protocols and human dignity.
These detailed allegations paint a stark picture of a judicial official who allegedly leveraged his power to instill fear and intimidate vulnerable families, particularly those with immigration concerns, rather than upholding the principles of justice and rehabilitation in truancy cases. The ongoing investigation underscores the critical need for vigilant oversight and adherence to judicial ethics to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all individuals within the legal system.
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