Ocean County Judge Suspended

Ocean County Superior Court Judge Melanie Donohue Appleby is handed a month's suspension without pay by the New Jersey Supreme Court in a resolution of ethics violations.

The high court's found her in violation of six components of canon law applying to standards of conduct, integrity, public trust, and disqualifying one's self from proceedings when impartiality is at risk.

The judge admitted last February that she had presided over a case that presented a conflict of interest, but denied attempting to cover it up.

The suspension is scheduled to begin November 10.

Judge Appleby ascended to Family Court almost three years ago. Prior to her time on the Toms River governing body, she had also been the township attorney in Stafford.