Judge suspended for posting scandalous and “derogatory” TikTok videos in judicial robes

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience navigating the digital realm, I can’t help but feel a tinge of amusement mixed with a dash of disbelief at the latest saga unfolding in the world of social media. Judge Gary Wilcox, or ‘Sal Tortorella’ as he’s known online, has found himself in hot water over his TikTok antics.


A Judge based in New Jersey was temporarily removed from duty, as he shared TikTok videos that fell short of maintaining the required level of professionalism and behavior.

The judge of Beren County Superior Court, named Gary Wilcox, was temporarily removed from his position for a duration of three months due to videos he posted on his now-erased TikTok account.

From 2021 to 2023, the internet personality recognized as ‘Sal Tortorella’ became widely popular due to sharing partially clothed videos that he filmed in his own bedroom.

Additionally, as per a 2023 grievance lodged by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct of the state’s Supreme Court, it was reported that the judge, who holds a degree from Harvard, secretly recorded himself miming explicit song lyrics within his judicial office.

According to reports, Wilcox allegedly shared 40 TikTok videos containing questionable content. In one of his clips, he is shown standing in front of law books and miming lyrics that suggest a confrontation: “My entire life, I’ve been anticipating someone to give me a tough time. I’m here for business! You believe you can challenge me and beat me? Go ahead. Try it.

Additionally, the accusation levied against the judge alleged the use of lyrics containing “references to drugs and gangs,” along with “offensive and prejudiced language.

As a gamer, I’d say when the court leveled some serious allegations against me, my legal team came to my defense by arguing that the judge was just having a harmless good time.

In simpler terms, his lawyers stated that what he did was playful and apparently harmless amusement, with no intention to cause harm or trouble the court. Essentially, he curiously delved into this new trend just for fun.

Regarding court documents, it was acknowledged by Wilcox himself that his behavior had “brought shame upon the judicial system.

In a different phrasing, Wilcox’s legal team requested that the committee reprimand him gently. However, instead, they chose to suspend him for violating three ethical courtroom norms. One of these violations involved not maintaining high professional standards and behavior.

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the judge’s suspension started and is scheduled to last up until January 8, 2025.

During Wilcox’s suspension, there’s a possibility that TikTok may be barred in the USA. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, must either offload its U.S. business by April 2024 or risk being banned.

Read More

2024-10-10 01:18