NJ Supreme Court removes judge for abuse of power

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's Supreme Court has removed a state Superior Court judge from office because she abused her power by interfering in a custody dispute involving a former intern.

The move comes after Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi decided not to fight the removal recommendation made by a judicial panel appointed by the top court.

Officials say DeAvila-Silebi falsely claimed the intern had a court order allowing her to regain custody of her child from his grandmother for Mother's Day weekend in May 2015. Officials say no such order existed.

The panel also says DeAvila-Silebi provided a list of calls that had been cropped to conceal whether the calls were incoming or outgoing.

DeAvila-Silebi's lawyer could not be reached for comment.