In one case, a man was brought before him on a charge of failure to pay court-ordered alimony that was part of a divorce settlement. During the proceeding, Russo admitted to knowing both the husband and wife in the case. He later said he should have recused himself from the case. The panel's findings reveal the man had been arrested after failing to pay $10,000 where he owed his ex-wife nearly $145,000. Instead of enforcing the warrant, Russo reduced a payment set by another judge from $10,000 to $500; the man was later arrested again for failing to pay the permanent alimony as agreed to in the divorce settlement. Russo rejected the idea that knowing the couple affected his judgment in the case.

The third case, where Russo threatened to fine a woman who had failed to show up for a court-ordered paternity test on her child, includes additional details of Russo's remarks when the woman refused to reveal her address during a telephone conversation that was heard by a courtroom full of people, according to the court documents. The portions of the transcript from that case show the woman repeatedly requested the help of an attorney. She also expresses fear for her safety, saying that is why she left New Jersey and why she won't give her address:
From the finding:
Respondent (Russo): What's your address?
C.P.: I wish not to disclose any of that information.
Respondent: Ma'am, I'm going to tell you this: I am going to assess financial penalties against you that will make it very difficult for you to ever get out from underneath this if you do not cooperate. So, we need --
C.P.: Well, I wish to have a lawyer before anything else.
Respondent: Well, ma'am, that's not an option for you. . . .
After she reiterates her refusal to give her address, saying, "I just don't know if he knows anyone that works anywhere, and I really don't want him finding me," Russo responded: "Well, he's going to find you, ma'am. We're all going to find you. The only question is . . . how much is it going to cost you to get this done." The fact that Russo conducted the 9-minute telephone conversation before a courtroom full of people, the panel said, "demonstrated an insensitivity that is quite disturbing." Russo's response to her concerns about revealing her address "was, mildly put, quite threatening" and the "discourteous comments and lack of patience reflect adversely on his temperament to serve as a judge," the panel wrote. Russo admitted that speaking to the woman violated the judicial code, which says conversations between a judge and a party in a matter outside of a court hearing are prohibited. But Russo said his mistake was allowing the conversation to go beyond scheduling an appearance and obtaining her address, according to the filing.

The fourth piece of the complaint alleged Russo had used his position as a judge to seek favorable treatment in connection with his own child custody case. Russo has repeatedly denied the allegations that he sought special treatment. The panel found his explanations less than credible, the finding said.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/new-details-revealed-judge-who-told-victim-close-your-legs