NJ judge scolded for mocking Mexican defendant’s English skills, comparing other to OJ Simpson

NJ judge scolded for mocking defendant’s English

TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Supreme Court’s disciplinary committee has publicly reprimanded a lower-court judge who belittled an immigrant defendant’s poor English skills and compared another defendant to O.J Simpson.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge James N. Citta (SIT’-uh) made the remarks during two sentencings. He disparaged a Mexican immigrant’s inability to speak English after six years in the United States and compared a man being sentenced for attempted murder to Simpson, who famously was acquitted in 1995 of killing his ex-wife and her friend.

A report issued by the disciplinary committee on Tuesday found Citta’s remarks inappropriate and excessive despite his reputation as an effective and hardworking judge.

Citta told the court the stress of presiding over emotionally charged criminal trials had sometimes caused him to “say things better left unsaid.” He has declined to comment on the reprimand.