NEWARK -- A Family Court judge in Essex County faces ethics charges for allegedly trying to assist a family friend obtain custody of a grandchild, according to a complaint filed with the state Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.

The complaint, filed this week, states that Judge Carolyn Wright accompanied Benjamin Hayes in August when he was trying to obtain paperwork in order to claim immediate custody of the child. Wright and Hayes met with various officials and also asked a fellow judge to hear the case on an emergency basis, which the judge declined to do, according to the complaint.

Wright also identified Hayes as her nephew, prompting officials to eventually transfer the matter to Hudson County. Wright also later admitted to another judge who had been alerted about the matter, David Katz, that Hayes was not her nephew but a family friend.

Wright also declined to fill out a form indicating her relationship to Wright, stating that he was not a relative, although a court official said the form was appropriate for other kinds of relationships as well. Wright also "expressed her concern" about the matter being transferred to Hudson County, the complaint states.

Wright is accused of failing to conform "to the high standards of conduct expected of judges" and of using the "power and prestige of her judicial office" to "advance a private matter."

The advisory committee will hear the complaint on a date that has yet to be specified.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.