State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Terence McCabe, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Superior Court’s denial of a recusal motion and held that part‑time municipal court judges must step aside when they are adversaries with a party’s lawyer in any other open, unresolved matter, even absent proof of actual prejudice. The Court also affirmed that the appeal was not moot and announced a bright‑line rule for future recusal determinations.