John Russo, Jr. was appointed Superior Court Judge by former New Jersey Chris Christie. A woman was seeking a restraining order against a the father of her child. She claimed he raped her, He also physically and verbally abused her, threatened to burn down her house, take away her child, and stole from her. The judge asked if she knew how to avoid getting raped.
According to a transcript of the hearing stated in the complaint, Russo asked her, “Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you?”
After she explained that she can avoid sexual contact by physically harming someone, Russo pressed her on how she could avoid the situation without physical contact.
” … To run away or try to get away,” the woman said.
Russo responded, “Run away, get away. Anything else?”
“I — that’s all I know,” she said.
“Block your body parts?” Russo said. “Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?”
NJ.com
March 28, 2018
He was also sued for sexual harassment by a woman who worked for him. She alleged that he threatened her with reprisal if she reported, telling her he could break careers and that he forced former Gov. McGreevey to resign.
Russo was removed from the bench by the state supreme court, barring him from ever serving as a judge again.
- NJ.com: Judge who told alleged rape victim to ‘close your legs’ is reprimanded
- NJ.com: Judge who told woman to ‘close your legs’ settles sex harassment suit from ex-clerk for $250K
- Justia: In the Matter of John Russo, Jr.
- app.com: Judge John F. Russo removed from bench by Supreme Court
Asbury Park Press
Asbury Park, New Jersey · Thursday, April 18, 2019