New count added in ethics complaint against judge

A part-time Lawrence municipal court judge who prosecuted Jesse Timmendequas for the brutal rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka in 1997, is now facing an ethics complaint for allegedly holding multiple ex parte conversations, for close relationships with local police officers, and for a “propensity to use profanity” connected to his “inability to operate his laptop.”

Lewis J. Korngut, 63, is accused of speaking with the municipal prosecutor outside the presence of the defendant’s attorney in 2022 – and in one case, discussed the facts of the case with a police officer, according to an updated complaint released today by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.

The complaint alleges that at various times in 2021 and 2022, Korngut “conversed with Lawrence Township police officers who were waiting in the hallway.”  He was also allegedly seen speaking with a police officer “in front of a police officer scheduled to testify” before him.

The original complaint outlined examples of Korngut engaging in ex parte conversations in two cases – State v. Andre A. Hunt and State v. Tyrone Thomas. In an amended complaint filed on September 18, the ACJC adds another case where Korngut held those conversations. 

In State v. Duke Duguay, Korngut discussed Duguay with the arresting police officer, focusing on the defendant’s blood alcohol level and that a vehicle was being used. Korngut later denied two pretrial motions filed on behalf of Duguay, who then entered into a conditional guilty plea and faced fines and lost his license for nine months.   

Korngut is also accused of telling a defendant appearing before him that the police officer who issued him a summons “is a buddy of mine, a great guy.”

He also attended social events with police officers, the complaint states.

The ACJC complaint also alleges that a township construction code officer who wrote 74 summonses for ordinance violations to township residents was the recipient of Giants football tickets from Korngut.

“By his conduct in fraternizing with Lawrence Township police officers in the courthouse and at social events, (Korngut) acted in a manner that cast reasonable doubt on (Korngut’s) capacity to act impartially as a judge,” the complaint states.   “By his conduct in gifting sporting event tickets to the code enforcement officer who regularly appears before (Korngut), (Korngut) created the appearance of partiality.”

Following an interaction with a police officer, the defense attorney immediately sought Korngut’s recusal, which was denied.

In another case that year, the prosecutor told Korngut that the state had a weak case “due to the lack of corroborating statements or testimony from witnesses and the unavailability of the investigating police officer.”  A plea deal resulted in the defendant, Tyrone Thomas, sentenced to 30 days in jail.

But later, a new attorney sought to vacate Thomas’ guilty plea.  But the ACJC complaint alleged that Korngut “engaged in a series of ex parte discussions with the municipal prosecutor about the merits of the motion and the strength of the state’s case.”

The complaint claims that “by initiating and engaging in ex parte communications about pending matters with the municipal prosecutor and police officers,” Korngut violated the judicial canons outlined in the code of conduct.

Korngut spent sixteen years as an assistant Mercer County prosecutor and ten years as a deputy state attorney general, where he completed a stint as chief of the corruption unit and counsel to the director of the Division of Criminal Justice.

Computer issues

The complaint against Korngut alleges that he expressed frustration with his laptop computer while on the record and “within earshot of court staff and counsel” over three months in 2022.

“I am going to throw this computer through the fl’****g window,” Korngut allegedly said, although not necessarily aimed at a particular person and not in the presence of litigants.

Another time, Korngut is accused of saying in response to computer problems, “I’m going to fl’****g kill somebody,” and “Another computer just went fl’**** g black. Oh my God, this is a fl’****g nightmare. This is a fl’**** g nightmare.”

He also allegedly said, “What the hell, what the fl’*k, these fl’****g people.”

The ACJC complaint alleges that Korngut’s use of profanity violated his obligation to maintain order and decorum in judicial proceedings and to “treat all those with whom he deals with dignity, patience, and courtesy.

Korngut became a municipal court judge in 2017 after Kevin Nerwinski resigned to become township manager.