JUDGE WITCHER RETURNS TO BENCH: JUDICIARY IMPOSED AND NOW RETRACTS SUSPENSION WITHOUT EXPLANATION

Judge Witcher Returns to Bench after Judiciary Retracts suspension without explanation. 

"A New Jersey municipal court judge who raised concerns about discrimination against Latino defendants will return to the courtroom one month after he was removed from the bench pending a fitness evaluation.

Municipal Court Judge Jason Witcher will be returning to active duty in South Jersey shortly, a state judiciary spokesman said Wednesday.

State officials did not offer any additional details about Witcher’s absence from the bench or his return.

Millville municipal court of discriminating against Latino defendants by scheduling them to appear in person in court while other defendants were given the choice of attending virtual hearings. Witcher’s allegations prompted a state investigation.

The judge also said at the time he had been previously threatened with removal from the bench by his supervising judge over a medical accommodation he sought under the Americans with Disabilities Act due to a health issue.

It is unclear if the notice Witcher received from local officials telling him he needed a fitness-for-duty release to return to the bench was related to his allegations about bias in the court, his previous medical accommodation request or another issue.

The email Witcher received in March from Bridgeton’s business administrator at the time said the city had “been advised by the New Jersey Judiciary and the Administrative Office of the Courts that they will not permit you to preside over court proceedings until it is demonstrated that you are able to perform the full functions of your position, with or without accommodation.”

Witcher said he received similar letters from officials in Millville, Carneys Point and Penns Grove at the time.

On Wednesday, the judiciary said Witcher would be resuming his judicial duties, but did not provide any additional explanation.

The state Attorney General’s office Division on Civil Rights is conducting its own independent investigation of the matter.

That investigation, which also encompasses whether anyone retaliated against Witcher in response to the allegations of discrimination, remains pending, the state Attorney General’s office said."

By Jackie Roman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com - 4.6/23