On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of New Jersey suspended Joseph V. Campbell from practicing law for one year for violations of attorney ethics rules stemming from criminal charges in Florida.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Joseph V. Campbell, Jr.,” with case no. 088812.
The charges cited New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) which states:
Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on a lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.
The suspension order was handed down after the Supreme Court reviewed a corrected decision from the New Jersey Disciplinary Review Board regarding Campbell’s misconduct. According to the decision document, in December 2021 Campbell engaged in a series of criminal incidents in Miami Beach, Florida over a matter of minutes. He stole a vehicle from one victim, physically assaulted two other victims while attempting to steal their vehicles as well, and struck one victim with the stolen car.
Campbell pleaded guilty in Florida court in May 2022 to charges of second-degree attempted robbery/carjacking, second-degree burglary of an occupied conveyance, third-degree grand theft of a vehicle, second-degree aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and first-degree misdemeanor battery. He received probation and credit for time served while the charges were pending.
The Disciplinary Review Board then considered Campbell’s guilty plea as conclusive evidence that he violated New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically the rule against committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on a lawyer’s fitness as an attorney. Aggravating factors in Campbell’s misconduct included the violence used against multiple victims and the risks his actions posed to public safety.
However, mitigating factors were also present. Records showed that during his criminal acts, Campbell was experiencing an acute mental health crisis, including delusions and auditory hallucinations. His misconduct appeared aberrant and was potentially fueled by financial struggles at the time. The Board thus recommended an indefinite suspension rather than disbarment.
The Supreme Court’s order imposed a one-year retroactive suspension consistent with the Board’s recommendation, with the additional condition that Campbell must provide proof of his fitness to practice law before reinstatement. He will also have to comply with the rules for suspended attorneys.
With this ruling, the New Jersey high court suspended Campbell’s law license for a defined period related to his Florida criminal convictions, while implementing safeguards to protect the public upon any future attempt to resume legal practice in the state.
The Disposition states:
“It is ORDERED that Joseph V. Campbell, Jr. is suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year, retroactive to May 31, 2023,”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Campbell is an attorney in East Orange, New Jersey. He acquired his law license in New Jersey in 2014.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
