A New Brunswick judge has been publicly rebuked and ordered to apologize after a national judicial review panel found he improperly used his authority during a private interaction with a junior lawyer.

The Canadian Judicial Council review panel found Court of King’s Bench Justice Frederick Ferguson engaged in “questionable” conduct when he initiated an unauthorized private conversation with a junior defence lawyer.

The lawyer had gone to the courthouse to obtain an audio recording intended for use in an upcoming motion seeking Ferguson’s recusal from a case.

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According to the panel, Ferguson discussed a previously dismissed complaint against himself and suggested there might not be enough time for the lawyer to incorporate the recording into the recusal materials, which were due that day.

The junior lawyer, who had only recently been called to the bar, said the interaction left them feeling intimidated.

Ferguson acknowledged the encounter was “plainly wrong” and an inappropriate use of his judicial authority. He maintained he had not intended to interfere with the recusal motion but conceded he should not have put himself in a position where his conduct could be perceived that way.

The council ordered Ferguson to provide the junior lawyer with a written apology within 60 days and send the panel a copy. It also issued a public expression of concern over his conduct.

The complaint was filed in May 2025 by criminal defence lawyer Nathan Gorham and included several other allegations against Ferguson, including claims of abusive and derogatory behaviour toward lawyers, litigants and judges, as well as allegations involving comments about gender and sexual activity.

The panel dismissed those other allegations as either unsubstantiated, involving the exercise of judicial discretion, or failing to meet the threshold for judicial misconduct.

Ultimately, the panel concluded there was no reasonable basis to recommend Ferguson’s removal from the bench.