Former NJ Judge Settles Harassment Claim Over ‘Feminine’ Attire

A former New Jersey judge has settled with the state judiciary in her case alleging she was harassed and discriminated against for for dressing “fancy” and “feminine.”

Former Superior Court Judge Deborah Gross-Quatrone claimed that her six-month stint on the bench in Bergen County in 2015 was marred by complaints and criticism from then-Assignment Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol. US District Court for the District of New Jersey Judge Esther Salas entered an order Monday saying the case was terminated unless the parties moved to enforce their deal.

Gross-Quatrone said she was treated differently because of her looks—including her “flowy beachy hair"—and designer clothes, such as Louboutin heels, Armani skirts, Louis Vuitton accessories, and Rolex watch.

Mizdol said she was reprimanded for violating court policy and secretly recording meetings, also alleging one of Gross-Quatrone’s law clerks complained of her yelling at her and tossing her work in the trash.

In the investigation of those complaints the court learned that Gross-Quatrone had the clerk start several weeks early, resulting in her working roughly 11.5-hours days for weeks without pay.

In a meeting about this issue a court staff member saw that Gross-Quatrone had a recording device recording in her purse. That became the basis for a two-month suspension from the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Gross-Quatrone’s case was paused during the ethics proceedings, after which the state dismissed her case, only to have the Third Circuit revive it. The parties struck a deal ahead of the court’s ruling on summary judgment.

Attorney for the state defendants and Gross-Quatrone didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brown & Connery and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office represent the state and former judiciary employees. Reilly, McDevitt & Henrich, Kang Haggerty and Maggs & McDermott represent Gross-Quatrone.

The case is Gross-Quatrone v. Mizdol, D.N.J., No. 2:17-cv-13111, order terminating case 6/22/26.