► Attorney Richard Sasso of Bridgewater, NJ, lush, arrogant, II Duce Wannabee |
Attorney Richard Sasso of Bridgewater, NJ, lush, arrogant, II Duce Wannabee
From 1998 through 2008, Richard Sasso was a sitting Municipal Court Judge in Bridgewater and Warren County, New Jersey.
During his tenure on the bench, Judge Richard Sasso engaged in a plethora of egregious misconduct, which led to him being forced off the bench in early 2008. That misconduct is set forth below.
Judge Richard Sasso the Lush
Due to his drunken state, Judge Ciccione met with the Judge Sasso and advised him to take a leave of absence and enroll in a drug abuse program. After conferring with his trusted counselor and mentor, Jack Daniels, Judge Sasso refused to comply with Ciccione’s advice.
Judge Sasso and Disorderly Conduct
On Nov. 29, 2007, Judge Sasso was involved in a drunken, disorderly conduct escapade at Torpedo’s Go-Go Bar in Bound Brook. The bar’s Web site describes it as a “NY Style Gentlemen’s Club,” and on St. Patrick’s Day, when the complaint was issued, it advertised “100 Hot Iris Ladies” and [1 Drunk Judge.]
When the bartender asked Sasso to present his driver’s license before he could start running a tab, he refused to comply. When the bartender insisted, Sasso invoked his position as a judge to intimidate the bartender and manager. Judge Sasso then said:
“Do you know what I am? I’m the Bound Brook judge.”
I’ve left the bar along for three years, “Do you know what I am? I can problems for you.”
Bound Brook police were called and Judge Sasso was forcibly removed, ripping off part of the bar’s ledge as he exited.
Abuse of Contempt Powers
May 9, 2006 – held Ms. Sears in contempt for allegedly cursing at him. If she called him a “no-good dirty, drunken, som-bitch, then how does that constitute contempt? The Commission ruled that the drunk abused his position and violated Ms. Sears’ due process rights.
July 12, 2007 – illegally finds Lisa Brown in contempt and orders her arrest for not appearing in his court even though she was in fact present.
Aug. 8, 2007, in regards to Ms. Bombelyn, an attorney, violated her due process rights and the law by finding her contempt and fining her $500. The Court of Appeals reversed in ruling that the drunk failed to comply with the law and further admonished him for his intemperate behavior
Unlawful sanctions/fines imposed on parties/lawyers for appearing late in Court
Even though it was proven that 3 defendants, Mr. Fitz, Aguirre and Ms. Simmons, all of whom made first appearances before the drunk, did not cause any undue delay or expense to the court, the drunk then unlawfully monetarily sanctioned Mr. Fitz, Aguirre and Ms. Simmons $250 and $150 respectively.
In another case, the drunk fined Ms. Orellana and her lawyer $150 and $250 respectively for appearing in his court when the prosecutor was late attending to matter in another court, and did so even though the prosecutor asked to adjourn the matter.
In another matter, the drunk illegally threatened two parties with incarceration if they didn’t immediately pay unlawful contempt sanctions of $250 each.
In early June 2009, the New Jersey Supreme Court permanently banned Judge Richard Sasso from ever holding a judicial position in the state. However, he was allowed to retain his undeserved law license.
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