NJ Judge’s Keffiyeh, ‘Palestine’ Hat Land Him Ethics Charges

A New Jersey municipal judge faces potential sanctions for wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh and a hat with the word “Palestine” to a state-sponsored training event.

The complaint, filed Monday with the New Jersey Supreme Court, alleges that East Orange Municipal Judge Steven Brister acted politically and undermined the impartiality of the judiciary by wearing those items to a training conference for local judges last June.

“Respondent’s insubordination in refusing to remove his hat at the request of his presiding judge demonstrated his failure to conform his conduct to the high standards expected of judges and impugned the integrity of ...