Claiming an improper intersection of politics and the bench, a Hammonton man this week filed a complaint with the New Jersey Supreme Court, charging Judge James Curcio of the state's Surrogate's Court with unethically collecting funds for a partisan cause, namely the 2nd District Assembly candidacy of Chris Brown, who is also an object of the complaint.

Richard C. Jacobus said Curcio held a fundraiser for Brown on March 19 at Chickie's and Pete's.

"Curcio was the host committee chairman for the event," Jacobus complained in his Aug. 3 letter to Candice Moody, state Supreme Court disciplinary counsel, advisory committee on judicial conduct.

An attorney and Iraq War veteran, Brown is running on a ticket with Assemblyman Vince Polistina, (R-2), and Assemblyman John Amodeo, (R-2).

"The Host Committee was comprised of over 80 people," Jacobus added. "Not only did Judge Curcio host the event, he was actively involved in soliciting funds from individuals for said event. Many of those 80 members of the host committee are indeed attorneys, and Judge Curcio knows this. Many of the same attorneys could also appear or have appeared before him in Surrogate Court, which is a clear conflict of interest, and creates an appearance of impropriety."

The Democrats in the 2nd District seized on the information in a statement, calling for a full and thorough investigation into the matter by the Supreme Court's Committee on Judicial Conduct.

Justin Myers, the campaign manager for Whelan for Senate, Cooper & Tyner for Assembly, said, "After reviewing all the facts regarding the complaint filed against Assembly candidate Chris Brown and Judge James Curcio, the Atlantic County Surrogate, there is no doubt that both Brown and Curcio knowingly violated judicial standards.

"Curcio, the Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, is strictly prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity, and is therefore violating numerous judicial canons. As a former Judge himself, Brown should know better and hold himself to the highest ethical standards," Myers said. "This incident is just one more example that demonstrates the ease at which ethical lines are blurred - or in this case crossed - by the Polistina, Amodeo, and Brown campaign this year."

Curcio did not return a call for comment, but Brown called the Democrats' outrage little more than "political shenanigans."

"While our state is wallowing in debt and unemployment is over 9%, my opponents have chosen to make a false allegation against Mr. Curcio in an attempt to embarrass me," said Brown. 

"What can’t be known is how these false charges will affect my reputation as a candidate or in my profession," added the candidate. "It is exactly these types of baseless attacks that keep good people from seeking office. Any reasonable examination of this complaint will lead to the conclusion that it is a calculated effort to garner headlines instead of actually solving problems.

"Ironically, the event citied in the release requested people who attended gather canned goods to replenish our local food bank. Do Cooper and Tyner want us to return the food we gathered for the food bank?"

Brown targeted an old object of derision in 2nd District campaigns: the monetary presence of South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross III. 

"While I held a local fundraiser designed in part to help those less fortunate, a review of ELEC filings found Tyner and Cooper have received over $2.5 million from Mr. Norcross and other committees which were financed and/or controlled by Camden County Democrats. (ELEC & The Press of Atlantic City, December 7, 2005)," the candidate said. "Talk about tainted money."