New Jersey judge faces investigation for 'inappropriate' TikTok videos

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Gary Wilcox

A New Jersey judge is under investigation for posting TikTok videos of himself lip-syncing to songs with profanity, graphic sexual references and racist terms.

In some videos, Judge Gary Wilcox is also seen in his judicial robes, according to the state's Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.

The complaint says the judge's conduct "brought disrepute to the judiciary".

His lawyer said the music was by "mainstream performers".

Superior Court Judge Wilcox, who has been practising law in the state since 1989, allegedly posted to TikTok under the alias "Sal Tortorella".

The account, which reportedly garnered some 100 followers, appears to have been taken down.

Among the videos cited in the complaint are those that show Mr Wilcox in his judicial robes and partially dressed while lying in bed.

In one post, it says, the 59-year-old walks through the courthouse in a Beavis and Butt-Head T-shirt while the song Get Down by Nas, based on the trial of two black men, plays in the background.

Two other posts singled out in the complaint allegedly show the judge in his chambers, pretending to burn cash to the tune of Sure Thing by Miguel and mouthing the racy lyrics of Jump by Rihanna.

It says that in another post, the suited judge - with his law books visible behind him - allegedly lip-synced along to an unidentified song with the words: "You think you can run up on me and whip my monkey [expletive]? Come on. Come on!"

"By his conduct in posting these and similar videos to TikTok, [Judge Wilcox] exhibited poor judgment and demonstrated disrespect for the Judiciary and an inability to conform to the high standards of conduct expected of judges," the complaint reads.

It goes on to allege at least three violations of the state's code of judicial conduct.

Judge Wilcox's attorney, Robert Hille, did not immediately respond to the BBC's request for comment, but told the New York Times: "I don't think that at the end of the day anybody is going to believe there was any desire to do any harm here."

"These are mainstream performers," he added. "This is music that's out there in the public. And clearly it elicits a different response depending on who is listening."

Mr Hille said he is reviewing the complaint and will file a response.

Pending an investigation, the Advisory Committee may choose to dismiss the complaint, privately or publicly discipline the judge, or file formal charges against him. Forms of discipline include censure and removal from the bench.