Alleged ear-pulling judge denies unwanted touching

TRENTON, N.J.- A New Jersey judge faces potential discipline from the state's highest court for pulling a court employee by the ear and unwelcome touching.

The potential discipline comes after the Advisory Council for Judicial Conduct released a report Thursday saying the suspension and stripping of Gerald Council's designation as Mercer County presiding criminal judge was warranted.

The report says Council's actions humiliated a drug court worker and violated the code of judicial conduct.

The advisory council substantiated allegations that Council singled a woman out and forcefully led her from a room. She also said the judge grabbed her by the ear on a separate occasion.

Council denied the allegations at a hearing.

The state's highest court will consider the discipline at a hearing Dec. 2